Mental representations of attachment in Eating Disorders: a pilot study using the Adult Attachment Interview

Authors: Barone, Lavinia¹; Guiducci, Valentina²

Source: Attachment & Human Development, Volume 11, Number 4, July 2009 , pp. 405-417(13)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Mental representations of attachment in a sample of adults with Eating Disorders (ED) were assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Sixty subjects participated in the study: 30 non-clinical and 30 clinical. The results obtained showed a specific distribution of attachment patterns in the clinical sample: 10% Free/Autonomous (F), 47% Insecure-Dismissing (Ds), 17% Insecure-Entangled/Preoccupied (E) and about 26% disorganized (CC/U). The two samples differed in their attachment pattern distribution and were significantly different on some coding system scales. Further information was obtained by analyzing differences between the three ED subtypes considered (i.e. Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder) and by investigating the differential role of the two parental figures in the definition of attachment representations. Results showed potential benefits in using the AAI coding system scales in addition to the main classifications in order to understand better the developmental issues involved in these disorders. Implications for developmental research and clinical nosology are discussed.

Keywords: attachment; Adult Attachment Interview; Eating Disorders; developmental factors; Eating Disorders subtypes

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14616730902814770

Affiliations: 1: Psychology Department, University of Pavia, Italy 2: Department of Anthropological Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy

Publication date: 2009-07-01

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