Childhood experiences of being bullied and teased in the eating disorders.

Empirical studies have found associations between eating pathology and childhood experiences of being bullied and teased about appearance. However, the nature of these links is not clear. This study investigated the possible links between such experiences and eating disorders, focusing on the potential mediating role of two socially oriented emotions--shame and social anxiety. Ninety-two eating-disordered women completed measures of social anxiety, shame, eating pathology and childhood experiences of being bullied and teased about their appearance (by peers and family). There was a specific relationship between teasing by peers about appearance and body dissatisfaction, which was mediated by shame. These findings support existing evidence regarding the associations between trauma and eating pathology. They suggest that clinicians need to consider the potential role of teasing by peers about appearance and shame when understanding body dissatisfaction. Further research is needed to determine if the model proposed here reflects true causal links. (c) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.