Bibliography: pages 159-173. / Previous research into the families of eating disordered individuals appears to have focused almost exclusively on the families of anorexics. In view of the problems associated with the conceptualization of bulimia as a syndrome distinct from anorexia nervosa, it seems possible that research into the families of anorexics may have included the families of bulimics. Following the introductory overview of some of the literature on bulimia, highlighting the lack of diagnostic clarity in this area, previous research into the families of both anorexics and bulimics is reviewed. In view of the lack of documented research into the families of bulimics from a systems perspective, the present study aimed to explore these families' functioning. Family functioning was assessed according to the McMaster Model of Family Functioning (Epstein and Bishop, 1981): clinical interviews with 13 bulimics provided qualitative data on their families' functioning: quantitative data were elicited from the family members of 10 of these bulimics by means of the Family Assessment Device (Epstein and Bishop, 1983). Clinical assessment of the families of bulimics reveals unhealthy family functioning. The ratings of all family members as well as those of the researcher indicate that there is familial dysfunction on all dimensions of family functioning. The main emphases in these families appears to be on instrumental issues, while affective issues are inappropriately handled. Discussion centres on the findings of the present study, which show some variance with the results of previous research into the families of anorexics; and an understanding of bulimia from a systems perspective is presented.

The Different Faces of Bulimia is a research project that has represented a journey. It began with the question “How do females experience bulimia as part of their lives?” and moved through rooms where different ‘faces’, or theories on bulimia, were met with and interviewed. There appear to exist, in literature concerning bulimia, five dominant faces on the matter. These are the Psychopathology face, the Psychoanalytic face, the Cognitive-behavioural face, the Cyberspace face, and the Narrative face. Each of these appeared to offer an individual and different meaning of bulimia. The research extended to include the sixth and seventh faces of C and L, two women who live with bulimia in their own lives, and the meaning that they attach to it. They represented the individual faces that existed in human interaction and not in the words of books, magazines, or computer screens. The meaning of bulimia in C and L’s lives was searched for in interviews with both women that were audio-recorded and transcribed. The analysis of these was done in line with narrative methodology which holds that our experience is constructed in collaboration with history (or past experience) and culture. Both history and culture is assumed to inform and co-author the narratives of bulimia in C and L lives, as well in the lives of the five dominant faces explored in this research. The analysis took the form of searching for the meaning that C and L attach to bulimia. The five dominant literary faces also became the history and culture that one supposes women living with bulimia to co-exist with, and their effect on their personal narratives became important. That is, whether the dominant literary faces had an effect on the stories told by the faces of these two women. In line with narrative methodology, this research’s aim was not to provide one final answer or conclusion to the research question, but rather to provide an analysis of the individual meanings contained in each face. It has, in effect, added another face of bulimia in it’s search for what bulimia means. / Dissertation (MA (Counselling Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / MA / unrestricted