The Parent–Child Relationship as Predictor of Eating Pathology and Weight Gain in Preadolescents

Abstract

The present study examined the role of attachment toward mother and father as a predictor of eating pathology and weight gain among preadolescent boys and girls. Self-report questionnaires and adjusted body mass index (BMI) were administered from a community sample of 601 preadolescents (8-11 years; 48% female) at baseline and once again 1 year later. Significant baseline associations were found between attachment toward both parents and several features of eating pathology. No baseline correlations were found between the attachment variables and adjusted BMI. However, after controlling for gender and baseline levels of eating pathology and weight, an insecure attachment toward mother significantly predicted increases in dietary restraint, eating concerns, weight concerns, and shape concerns, and adjusted BMI in the children 1 year later. An insecure attachment toward father was predictive for persistence in children's subjective binge eating episodes. The present study provides preliminary evidence for the longitudinal association between attachment and eating pathology and weight gain in preadolescents. Moreover, attachment toward mother and attachment toward father appear to be differently associated with their children's disordered eating attitudes and adjusted BMI. Future research should further elucidate the mechanisms underlying this differential association.

Early Predictors of Eating Problems in Preadolescence—A Prospective Birth Cohort Study

“…Mothereinfant relationship problems have been associated with feeding difficulties in early childhood [28,29] and previous research has shown that insecure attachment to the mother significantly increases the risk of restrained eating over a 1-year period during preadolescence [30]. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not find motherechild relationship problems measured during infancy to be predictive of eating behavior problems in preadolescence.…”

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Children and Adolescents: Can Attachment Theory Contribute to Its Efficacy?

“…Groh et al 2012), depression (Brumariu and Kerns 2010), and externalizing behaviour problems (Fearon et al 2010). Many separate studies support this effect for a list of other problems such as dissociation (Liotti 2006), eating pathology (Goossens et al 2012), non-suicidal self-injury (Bureau et al 2010), or even the symptomatology and course of schizophrenia (Ponizovsky et al 2007). As a consequence, insecure attachment is considered an important transdiagnostic risk factor in the development of psychopathology and could therefore be an important factor to take into account during the treatment of any child and adolescent emotional or behavioural disorder.…”

The Role of Attachment in Body Weight and Weight Loss in Bariatric Patients

“…For example, some studies indicate an association between insecure maternal attachment and being overweight [16, 17] with anxious attachment being specifically linked with BMI possibly through the tendency to engage in disinhibited eating [18]. Similarly, Rommel et al [19] identified an association between parental attachment and emotional awareness in obese patients, and Holland, Dallos and Olver [20] concluded from their qualitative study that complex, conflicted family relationships influence attachment styles which in turn lead to a reliance on food as a coping mechanism.…”