Eating psychopathology in young non-clinical adults: a pilot study of the impact of parental personality
Authors: Brunton, Joan N.1; Lacey, J. Hubert1; Waller, Glenn2
Source: European Eating Disorders Review, Volume 13, Number 6, November 2005 , pp. 406-410(5)
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Abstract:
This pilot study aims to determine the effect of parental personality factors on their grown-up children's eating attitudes. Thirty sets of non-clinical participants (mother, father, young adult child) completed standardized measures of narcissism, borderline personality disorder characteristics and eating pathology. Data were analysed using correlations. There were specific associations between parental personality pathology and their child's eating attitudes in young adulthood, but only in relation to fathers' levels of maladaptive narcissism. The ‘martyred’ form of narcissism in fathers was linked to bulimic attitudes in their children, while their ‘controlling’ narcissism was linked with restrictive eating attitudes. These results add to the growing body of research demonstrating paternal influences on the development of eating attitudes. Potential clinical implications for family and individual therapy are also discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.Keywords: eating disorder; personality; narcissism
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1002/erv.625
Affiliations: 1: St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK 2: Eating Disorders Service, South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK
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