Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
[Eating attitudes among Hungarian adolescents]
Dóra Siska1, Melinda Cserép2,3, Brigitta Szabó1,4
11 ELTE Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem Pszichológiai Intézet, Fejlődés- és Klinikai Gyermekpszichológia Tanszék Budapest Magyarország.
Introduction:
According to the literature, mentalizing difficulties and insecure emotional attachment styles occur more frequently among adolescents with eating disorders. The role of mentalization in the relationship between emotional attachment styles and eating attitudes has not been investigated among Hungarian adolescents.
Objective:
We investigated the relationship between mentalization, emotional attachment and eating attitudes among adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age.
Method:
After informed consent, 143 adolescents filled out the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, the Experience in Close Relationship Scale, and the Eating Attitudes Test in our study.
Results:
The direct path between the emotional attachment total score and dieting was not significant (c' = 0.01, p = 0.31, β = 0.09), while the indirect path between emotional attachment and eating attitudes through mentalization uncertainty proved to be significant (∑ab = 0.01 [0.01-0.02], β = 0.07).
Discussion:
Our results suggest that the attachment style plays a role in dieting through mentalizing among adolescents.
Conclusion:
We recommend mentalization-based methods to change attitudes about dieting among adolescents. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(2): 64-69.
Related Concept Videos
Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
Self-Schemas
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Attitudes
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Bulimia Nervosa

