An examination of the prospective impact of bulimic symptoms and dietary restraint on life hassles and social support

- We tested the stress generation hypothesis in relation to eating disorder symptoms.
- Bulimic symptoms predicted greater life hassles but not lower social support.
- Dietary restraint did not predict life hassles or social support.

BackgroundThe stress generation hypothesis posits that individuals with psychopathology engage in maladaptive behaviors that create stress. Although extensively researched in the depression literature, few studies have investigated whether the stress generation hypothesis applies to eating disorders. This study examined whether bulimic symptoms and dietary restraint predict future life hassles and low social support among undergraduate students.MethodsThree hundred seventy-four undergraduate students participated in this two-part prospective study through a secure online system. They completed questionnaires assessing depressive symptoms, bulimic symptoms, dietary restraint, life hassles, and social support.ResultsRegression analyses revealed that baseline bulimic symptoms predicted greater life hassles but not lower social support one month later, after statistically controlling for baseline measures. Baseline dietary restraint did not predict future life hassles or social support.LimitationsLimitations include use of self-report measures, suboptimal response rates at the follow-up assessment, and use of a non-clinical sample with primarily White participants.ConclusionsThese results provide preliminary support for the stress generation hypothesis in relation to bulimic symptoms. Individuals with bulimic symptoms may generate stressors similar to those experiencing depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that emphasizing stress management in the treatment of individuals with bulimic symptoms could potentially improve treatment outcomes.