Journal
CONTEMPORARY FAMILY THERAPY
Volume 24, Issue 4, Pages 581-599Publisher
KLUWER ACADEMIC-HUMAN SCIENCES PRESS
DOI: 10.1023/A:1021273129664
Keywords
attachment styles; family environment; eating disorders
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This study sought to examine the extent to which family environment and attachment styles are concurrently related to eating disorders. The Adult Attachment Scale and the Family Environment Scale were administered to 25 anorexic and 33 bulimic female patients at intake in an eating disorder clinic; and 37 age-matched female controls. Eating disorder patients were found to be less secure, more avoidant, and more anxious than controls. The families of eating disorder patients were found to be less cohesive, expressive, and encouraging of personal growth than were controls. Low encouragement of personal growth and uncertain attachment styles may be manifestations of family difficulties in supporting the child during the process of separation individuation, and exploration of the outside world.
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