Insecure attachment styles in adolescents at risk for eating disorders

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Insecure attachment styles in female adolescents are associated with increased risk for eating disorders (ED).
• Understanding specific attachment patterns may help differentiate risks for anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine insecure attachment styles in female adolescents at risk for ED.
• To determine if attachment styles differentiate between high risk for AN and high risk for BN.

Main Methods:

• 150 adolescents were categorized into high risk for AN, high risk for BN, medium risk, and control groups.
• Attachment styles were assessed using the Experience in Close Relationships Scale and the Relationship Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Anxiety Attachment characterized adolescents at risk for ED (AN + BN), and particularly those at high risk for BN.
• Preoccupied Attachment characterized high risk for BN, but not high risk for AN.
• Avoidance Attachment did not characterize those with AN, contrary to some theories. Insecure, Fearful, and Dismissing types did not differentiate between high-risk AN and BN groups.

Conclusions:

• Anxiety Attachment is a dominant style in adolescents at high risk for both AN and BN.
• Preoccupied Attachment is specifically linked to high risk for BN in female adolescents.
• Attachment style assessment can inform risk stratification for different ED subtypes.