Characteristics of interview refusers: Women who decline to participate in interviews relating to eating

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the eating habits and weight ranges of 27 women who refused to participate in a semistructured interview on eating with 25 women who agreed to participate, to determine if there were any systematic differences between the two groups. Method: The women had previously completed a general psychiatric interview that also included a lifetime DSM-III-R diagnosis of eating disorders. About 2 years after this interview, the women were asked to participate in an interview that would specifically examine eating behaviors. Results: In contrast to the results of previous studies, this study found that there was no difference between women who refused or agreed to participate in an interview about eating, in terms of their eating problems or weight ranges. Conclusions: It seems that eating or weight problems need not be overrepresented in groups who refuse to participate in surveys about eating, thereby undermining the accuracy of prevalence rates in the general population. Suggestions for achieving this representation are discussed.