Family dysfunction and bulimic psychopathology: The mediating role of shame

Objective Although disturbed family function has some association with bulimic psychopathology, the psychological mechanisms that account for that link are not clear. This study explores the hypothesis that shame acts as a mediator in that relationship, whereas shame‐proneness is a moderator variable. Method The participants were 139 nonclinical women. Each completed measures of perceived family function, shame‐proneness, internalized shame, and bulimic psychopathology. Regression analyses were used to test for the mediating and moderating effects of shame. Results The findings were compatible with a model where shame‐proneness acts as a moderator and internalized shame is a perfect mediator in the link between paternal overprotection and bulimic attitudes. Conclusions The experience of shame appears to be a critical element in understanding the relationship between perceived family dysfunction and bulimic psychopathology. Where individuals perceive their families as problematic, it may be clinically valuable to focus on shame as a psychological consequence of that experience. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 28: 84–89, 2000.