[Body image of anorexic girls, their mothers and sisters: a controlled study].

Body image disturbance is a main diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa. However, its transmission in families has never been studied empirically. Our study compared the body experience of a consecutive series of 29 adolescent anorexics at initial assessment (DSM-III-R, mean age 14.4 years), their mothers (n = 29) and 9 sisters with a control group of 29 healthy girls (matched in age and education), their mothers (n = 29) and 10 sisters, using the Body Experience Questionnaire (Strauss u. Appelt 1983). Within-group comparison revealed no significant differences in the control group. Although anorexics showed a more negative body experience than their mothers and sisters, the between-group comparisons revealed no significant differences to healthy controls, neither in cases nor in their sisters. Surprisingly, mothers of anorexics reported a significantly more positive body experience than control mothers. Whereas in patients and their mothers a correlation of insecurity was found, the control mother-daughter-pairs revealed a correlation of attractiveness. In the transmission of body experience amongst female family members negative aspects seem to play a major role between mothers and their anorexic daughters, whereas positive aspects correlate significantly in healthy mothers and daughters; mothers of anorexics may communicate specific negative aspects of body experience to anorexic daughters or anorexics might be more susceptible to such messages. If further studies confirm our results, this should have consequences for treatment.