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Related Experiment Videos

Attachment in anorexia nervosa: a transgenerational perspective.

A Ward1, R Ramsay, S Turnbull

  • 1Eating Disorders Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.

The British Journal of Medical Psychology
|January 10, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Insecure attachment is prevalent in women with anorexia nervosa and their mothers, often manifesting as a dismissive style. Difficulties in emotional processing may be transmitted, increasing anorexia nervosa risk.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Psychiatry
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Insecure attachment is frequently observed in individuals with eating disorders.
  • Previous research has primarily focused on mother-daughter interactions, with limited empirical investigation into maternal attachment patterns and intergenerational transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the attachment status of patients diagnosed with severe anorexia nervosa and their mothers.
  • To explore potential intergenerational transmission of attachment patterns within these families.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), considered the 'gold standard', for assessing attachment status.
  • Interviewed 20 in-patients with anorexia nervosa and 12 of their mothers.
  • Assessed mental state using the Clinical Interview Schedule (Revised) for mothers and clinician ratings for daughters.

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Main Results:

  • A high rate of insecurity was found: 95% of daughters and 83% of mothers were rated insecure on the AAI.
  • The dismissive attachment style was predominant, observed in 79% of daughters and 70% of mothers.
  • No direct association was found between mothers' and daughters' attachment styles, but high idealization and low reflective functioning were common in both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Women with anorexia nervosa and their mothers frequently exhibit a dismissive attachment style.
  • Low reflective functioning and high idealization, potentially learned or transmitted, are characteristic of both groups.
  • Maternal difficulties in emotional processing, such as unresolved loss, may be transmitted and serve as a risk factor for developing anorexia nervosa.