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Bulimia Nervosa: Family Size, Sibling Sex and Birth Order

A Catchment-Area Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

J. Hubert Lacey ,
S. G. Gowers  and
A. V. Bhat
J. Hubert Lacey*
Affiliation:
Adult Psychiatry Section, Department of Mental Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, Jenner Wing Level O, London SW17 0RE
S. G. Gowers
Affiliation:
Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Prestwich Hospital, Bury New Road, Manchester M25 7BL
A. V. Bhat
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, London
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Family size, sex of siblings and birth order were examined in 225 bulimic patients of normal weight, all stemming from the same circumscribed catchment area. Although bulimia can occur in any size family, all-female sibships were significantly over-represented. In small families at least, the bulimic patient was highly likely to be the only or eldest daughter. In small sibships, a bulimic who was first-born was significantly more likely to have a younger sister; if second-born she was more likely to have an elder brother. Despite the very large sample size, no final conclusion can be made on birth order.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 158 , Issue 4 , April 1991 , pp. 491 - 494
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1991 

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