Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Parental bonding and eating disorders: a systematic review
Amanda Tetley1, Nima G Moghaddam1, David L Dawson1
1Trent Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Nottingham and University of Lincoln, Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, Yang Fuji Building, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG8 1BB, United Kingdom.
None:
This article systematically reviewed studies of parental bonding in people with eating disorders. MEDLINE, PsychINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched to identify studies that compared parental bonding in people diagnosed with an eating disorder relative to non-clinical controls. Twenty-four studies were identified. Women with eating disorders typically reported lower parental care and higher parental protection compared to non-clinical, but not psychiatric, controls. Interestingly, a modest number of studies found that these relationships were mediated by avoidant problem solving style and several schemas from the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ; Schmidt, Joiner, Young, & Telch, 1995). While there are methodological limitations associated with the reviewed studies, they do offer some support for the proposal that difficulties in parent-child relationships predispose women to eating disorders and other psychiatric diagnoses.
Related Concept Videos
Binge Eating Disorders
Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Self-Schemas
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Taste Buds and Receptors

