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Exploring Attachment Dimensions in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity
Silvia Tempia Valenta1, Sara Ventura2, Silvia Garelli3
1Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2025
Summary
Individuals with obesity exhibit more avoidant attachment styles and anxious attachment is linked to lower quality of life (QoL). This highlights the role of attachment in psychosocial challenges associated with obesity.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Obesity Research
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Obesity is linked to physical health risks, social discrimination, and reduced quality of life (QoL).
- Psychological factors, such as attachment styles, influence emotional regulation and eating behaviors.
- Insecure attachment is associated with emotional dysregulation and disordered eating patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between past and present attachment styles, binge-eating behaviors, and QoL in individuals with overweight/obesity versus normal weight.
- To compare attachment dimensions and their association with QoL in different weight groups.
- To explore the role of attachment in the psychosocial challenges faced by individuals with obesity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 192 women (96 overweight/obese, 96 normal weight).
- Utilized Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), Binge Eating Scale (BES), and Obesity-Related Well-being (ORWELL 97) questionnaire.
- Employed between-group comparisons and hierarchical regression analysis.
Main Results:
- Overweight/obese participants demonstrated less secure and more avoidant attachment styles compared to normal-weight controls.
- No significant differences were found in parental attachment (PBI scores) between the groups.
- Attachment anxiety and binge-eating behaviors were significantly associated with lower QoL.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is associated with avoidant attachment in adulthood, but not with differences in parental attachment.
- Anxious attachment significantly correlates with reduced QoL in individuals with obesity.
- Attachment-related factors play a crucial role in the psychosocial difficulties experienced by individuals with obesity.
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