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. 2022 Apr 18:13:852977.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.852977. eCollection 2022.

Mediational Effect of Fairburn's Transdiagnostic Mechanisms Between Attachment to the Mother and Eating Disorder Symptoms in a Clinical Sample

Laura Cortés-García  1 , Carmen Martínez Calvo  2 , Carmen Senra  3
Affiliations

Mediational Effect of Fairburn's Transdiagnostic Mechanisms Between Attachment to the Mother and Eating Disorder Symptoms in a Clinical Sample

Laura Cortés-García et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Objective: Research has supported a link between insecure attachment and eating disorders (EDs); however, little is known about how this influence is exerted in young female EDs patients. This study tested, for the first time, a multiple mediational model, wherein the four Fairburn's transdiagnostic mechanisms mediated the relationship between attachment to the mother and ED symptoms.

Methods: A total of 101 female young EDs patients aged 15-24 were administered the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Eating Disorder Inventory-3 and Eating Attitudes Test-26 to assess attachment, the four transdiagnostic maintaining mechanisms and ED symptoms, respectively.

Results: Comparison analyses showed that there were no significant differences between the diagnostic groups in terms of attachment and the transdiagnostic variables. Multiple mediational analyses indicated that low self-esteem and clinical perfectionism were significant mediators between insecure attachment to the mother and ED symptoms, while controlling for depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the distal risk influence of insecure attachment to the mother in the development of ED symptoms might be explained by low self-esteem and high clinical perfectionism, controlling for depressive symptoms. Further investigation into the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatments targeting insecure attachment representations for young EDs patients is recommended.

Keywords: eating disorder; female patient; insecure attachment; multiple mediation analysis; transdiagnostic mechanisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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