Self-competence and the prediction of bulimic symptoms in older women

Previous research in undergraduate women has demonstrated that an individual's level of self-competence was a stronger predictor of bulimic symptom change than their level of self-liking (Bardone, Perez, Abramson, & Joiner, 2003). The authors examined whether self-competence would similarly predict bulimic symptom change in a sample of older women. In April 2000, a large group of adults attending mood disorder conferences completed questionnaires about eating disorder symptoms and self-esteem. Approximately 2.5 years later, 150 women, 45 years of age and older, were contacted for a follow-up study. Eighty-eight women completed follow-up eating disorder and self-esteem measures. Consistent with prior research, self-competence emerged as a stronger predictor of bulimic symptom change than self-liking, such that lower self-competence was associated with an increase in bulimic symptoms. The results indicate that self-competence may serve as a useful prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for older women seeking treatment for eating disorders.