Alessio Maria Monteleone1, Valeria Ruzzi2, Giuseppina Patriciello2, Francesca Pellegrino2, Giammarco Cascino3, Giovanni Castellini4, Luca Steardo2, Palmiero Monteleone3, Mario Maj2. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138, Naples, Italy. alessio.monteleone@fastwebnet.it. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138, Naples, Italy. 3. Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry 'Scuola Medica Salernitana', Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. 4. Psychiatric Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Childhood trauma and parental bonding have been widely recognized as risk factors for eating disorders (EDs). However, their interplay in determining ED psychopathology has been poorly investigated. Consequently, we have assessed their interaction with core ED psychopathological symptoms. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with anorexia nervosa, 43 with bulimia nervosa and 77 healthy women completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Chi square test and regression analyses with a moderation model were performed to investigate the interplay between childhood trauma, parental bonding and ED symptoms such as ineffectiveness, social insecurity, drive to thinness, interoceptive awareness, impulsivity and perfectionism. RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients with EDs showed higher levels of trauma and parental control perception and lower levels of parental care. Childhood maltreatment was more prevalent in patients with the affectionless control parental style. Moderation analyses revealed that higher maternal control significantly predicted the ED symptom of social insecurity only when participants experienced lower levels of emotional abuse. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate an interplay between deranged problematic parental bonding and childhood trauma in promoting a possible vulnerability to social insecurity, one of the most central dimensions of ED psychopathology. This interaction might have psychotherapeutic implications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
PURPOSE: Childhood trauma and parental bonding have been widely recognized as risk factors for eating disorders (EDs). However, their interplay in determining ED psychopathology has been poorly investigated. Consequently, we have assessed their interaction with core ED psychopathological symptoms. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients with anorexia nervosa, 43 with bulimia nervosa and 77 healthy women completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Eating Disorder Inventory-2. Chi square test and regression analyses with a moderation model were performed to investigate the interplay between childhood trauma, parental bonding and ED symptoms such as ineffectiveness, social insecurity, drive to thinness, interoceptive awareness, impulsivity and perfectionism. RESULTS: Compared to controls, patients with EDs showed higher levels of trauma and parental control perception and lower levels of parental care. Childhood maltreatment was more prevalent in patients with the affectionless control parental style. Moderation analyses revealed that higher maternal control significantly predicted the ED symptom of social insecurity only when participants experienced lower levels of emotional abuse. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate an interplay between deranged problematic parental bonding and childhood trauma in promoting a possible vulnerability to social insecurity, one of the most central dimensions of ED psychopathology. This interaction might have psychotherapeutic implications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.
Entities:
Keywords:
Attachment; Childhood abuse; Eating disorders; Parenting style; Social insecurity
Authors: Paolo Meneguzzo; Chiara Cazzola; Roberta Castegnaro; Francesca Buscaglia; Enrica Bucci; Anna Pillan; Alice Garolla; Elisa Bonello; Patrizia Todisco Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-03-31
Authors: Carla Comacchio; Giulia Antolini; Mirella Ruggeri; Marco Colizzi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-28 Impact factor: 3.390