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 selfesteem
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 recommendedLC-G was supported by two grants from The Research Council of Norway, grant numbers 288083 and 301010S