Differences in Disordered Eating Patterns According to the Attachment Style to Parents

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine differences in disordered eating patterns of adolescent regarding tothe type of attachment to parents. The survey is conducted on a sample of 898 high school students from the Tuzla Canton (488 female and 410 male). The average age of adolescents is 17.5 years. The EatingAttitudes Test (EAT-26) is used to measure disordered eating patterns, and modified version of Brenan’sExperiences in close Relations Inventory (ECR) is usedto measure attachment patterns to parents. Abouttwo-thirds of the students are allocated in a type of secure attachment to their parents, and the rest ofstudents are classified along the three categories: fearful, avoidant and preoccupied attachment. A totalof about 10% of adolescents are classified as individuals with disordered eating patterns. According to the modalities in the set of disordered eating habits, the most frequent is the dieting, and the leas tmanifested is bulimia. The results of the study show that family attachment has an effect on disorderedeating patterns as a whole (EAT scale): F (3, 892) = 7.79, p <.001, ω2 = .02), and the same is detectedfor all the dimensions: dieting F (3, 892) = 4.60, p <.005, ω2 = .01), bulimia F (3,892) = 5.93, p <.001,ω2 = .01) and oral control F (3, 892) = 4.02, p <.01, ω2 = .01). Adolescents with secure attachment havesignificantly less symptomatology of disordered eating patterns, dieting and bulimia, than adolescents with insecure attachment styles.

Keywords

• attachment patterns
• disordered eating patterns
• adolescence