Universität zu Köln

Klein, Eva M., Benecke, Cord, Kasinger, Christoph ORCID: 0000-0001-5590-0645, Braehler, Elmar, Ehrenthal, Johannes C. ORCID: 0000-0002-9428-3763, Strauss, Bernhard and Ernst, Mareike (2022). Eating disorder psychopathology: The role of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and personality functioning. J. Psychosomat. Res., 160. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. ISSN 1879-1360

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Abstract

Objective: Although the relationship between insecure attachment patterns and eating disorder (ED) psychopathology has repeatedly been demonstrated, the underlying mechanisms of this association are not fully understood. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine personality functioning, defined as an impairment in self and interpersonal functioning, as a mediator between attachment insecurity and ED psychopathology. Methods: In a representative population-based sample (N = 2508; age range 14-92 years) ED symptomatology, personality functioning, and attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance) were assessed. Besides descriptive uni-/bivariate analysis, path analysis was used to test a mediation model while controlling for the effects of age, gender, mental distress, and BMI. Results: ED symptomatology was associated with lower levels of personality functioning (r = 0.22) and higher levels of attachment anxiety (r = 0.14) but did not correlate with attachment avoidance (r = 0.02). Path analysis revealed that personality functioning fully mediated the effect of attachment anxiety on ED symptomatology: The indirect effect via personality functioning (beta = 0.04, p < .001) accounted for 77% of the total effect. Fit indices were excellent. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the main results were mainly applicable to women and the middle age group. Conclusion: The present findings contribute to the growing body of research using dimensional conceptualizations of personality functioning, suggesting that it provides an informative, overarching framework for understanding and treating ED psychopathology. Findings indicate that underlying individual differences, e.g., with respect to insecure attachment configurations, have relevant implications for symptom manifestations. Potential clinical implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Klein, Eva M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Benecke, Cord UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kasinger, Christoph UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-5590-0645 UNSPECIFIED Braehler, Elmar UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ehrenthal, Johannes C. UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-9428-3763 UNSPECIFIED Strauss, Bernhard UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ernst, Mareike UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-682593
DOI:	10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110975
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Psychosomat. Res.
Volume:	160
Date:	2022
Publisher:	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1879-1360
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ANOREXIA-NERVOSA; INSECURE ATTACHMENT; PART I; MENTALIZATION; SENSITIVITY; QUESTIONNAIRE; ASSOCIATION; INVENTORY; RELEVANCE; PATHOLOGY Multiple languages Psychiatry Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/68259