Family interaction among white and ethnic minority adolescents with bulimia nervosa and their parents.

OBJECTIVE

To examine family adaptability, cohesion and satisfaction among white and ethnic minority families of adolescents seeking treatment for BN.

METHOD: Families completed the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES III) as part of their baseline assessment.

RESULTS

No differences were found between white and ethnic minority patients' perceived and ideal levels of family cohesion and adaptability or level of satisfaction with family functioning, nor were differences found between white and ethnic minority parents on these measures. Both white and ethnic minority patients perceived their families to be less cohesive than did their fathers and their mothers, and their ideal levels of cohesion were lower than that of their fathers and their mothers.

CONCLUSION

These findings are consistent with a growing literature on eating disorders among ethnic minorities, which suggests that there may be fewer differences and more similarities among ethnic groups than previously thought.