Do dysfunctional coping modes mediate the relationship between perceived parenting style and disordered eating behaviours?
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Published on: September 19, 2019
Jessica M Brown1, Stephanie Selth2, Alexander Stretton3
1School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, North Tce, Adelaide, 5005 SA Australia.
Background:
Preliminary studies suggest that both childhood experiences and coping behaviours may be linked to eating disorder symptoms.
Methods:
In this study maladaptive schema coping modes were investigated as mediators in the relationship between perceived negative parenting and disordered eating. A total of 174 adults with eating and/or body image concerns completed questionnaires measuring parenting experiences, schema modes, and disordered eating behaviours.
Results:
Perfectionistic Overcontroller, Self-Aggrandiser, Compliant Surrenderer, Detached Protector and Detached Self-Soother coping modes partially explained the variance in the relationships between perceived negative parenting experiences and the behaviours of restricting and compensation (purging and overexercising).
Conclusions:
Our findings suggest that Overcompensatory, Avoidant and Surrender coping mechanisms all appear to play a role in the maintenance of eating disorder symptoms, and that there are multiple complex relationships between these and Early Maladaptive Schemas that warrant further investigation.
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