Parental bonding and eating psychopathology in bulimia nervosa: personality traits as possible mediators

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 214-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Secondo Fassino ◽  
Federico Amianto ◽  
Giuseppe Rocca ◽  
Giovanni Abbate Daga

SUMMARYAims– The relationship between eating disorders, attachment, personality traits and eating psychopathology remains unexplored. This study tested the mediating role of temperament and character between parental bonding and psy-chopathology in bulimic women.Methods– 154 bulimic subjects and 154 healthy controls were compared using Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Multiple regression analysis tested the mediation of personality traits between parenting and eating psy-chopathology.Results– Bulimic subjects displayed low maternal and paternal care and low self-directedness, and high novelty seeking and eating psychopathology. Maternal care was negatively related to social insecurity, inadequacy and impulsiveness. Paternal care predicted novelty seeking, self-directedness, interoceptive awareness, impulsiveness, and asceticism. The mediation effect of self-directedness between paternal care and psychopathology was significant, not the one of novelty seeking. Conclusions – Parental care is lower in bulimic than in control women even when controlled for possible confounding variables. Some eating psychopathology traits are related to maternal and paternal care, but not the bulimia subscale. Paternal care is also related to temperament and character traits which are related to eating psychopathology. Self-directedness mediates with different degrees between parenting and eating psychopathology. Clinical implications are discussed.Declaration of Interest:The first author received financing from Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation for the research on eating disorders (3989 IT/FA 2005.1797). The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) awarded a Charron Family Grant to the second author to sustain research about the families of subjects affected by eating disorders. The third author received a grant from “Regione Piemonte” for research on Eating Disorders for the years 2008 and 2009. The authors have not received any other financing for the present research, including pharmaceutical company support or any honoraria for consultancies for interventions during the last two years. The authors are not involved in any conflict of interest in connection to the submitted article.

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1407-1418 ◽  
Author(s):  
KELLY L. KLUMP ◽  
MICHAEL STROBER ◽  
CYNTHIA M. BULIK ◽  
LAURA THORNTON ◽  
CRAIG JOHNSON ◽  
...  

Background. Previous studies of personality characteristics in women with eating disorders primarily have focused on women who are acutely ill. This study compares personality characteristics among women who are ill with eating disorders, recovered from eating disorders, and those without eating or other Axis I disorder pathology.Method. Female participants were assessed for personality characteristics using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI): 122 with anorexia nervosa (AN; 77 ill, 45 recovered), 279 with bulimia nervosa (BN; 194 ill, 85 recovered), 267 with lifetime histories of both anorexia and bulimia nervosa (AN+BN; 194 ill, 73 recovered), 63 with eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS; 31 ill, 32 recovered), and 507 without eating or Axis I disorder pathology.Results. Women ill with all types of eating disorders exhibited several TCI score differences from control women, particularly in the areas of novelty-seeking, harm avoidance, self-directedness, and cooperativeness. Interestingly, women recovered from eating disorders reported higher levels of harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness scores than did normal control women.Conclusions. Women with eating disorders in both the ill and recovered state show higher levels of harm avoidance and lower self-directedness and cooperativeness scores than normal control women. Although findings suggest that disturbances may be trait-related and contribute to the disorders' pathogenesis, additional research with more representative community controls, rather than our pre-screened, normal controls, is needed to confirm these impressions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Murakoshi ◽  
Nobuyuki Mitsui ◽  
Jiro Masuya ◽  
Yota Fujimura ◽  
Shinji Higashi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Previous studies reported that subjective well-being in adulthood correlates with perceived parental bonding in childhood as well as personality traits. However, whether personality traits mediate the effect of perceived parental bonding on well-being or not has not been reported to date. In this study, we hypothesized that ‘parental care and overprotection’ in childhood affect ‘well-being’ in adulthood through various ‘personality traits’, and analyzed this using structural equation modeling. Methods A total of 402 adult volunteers from the community provided responses to the following questionnaires: 1) Parental Bonding Instrument, 2) Temperament and Character Inventory, and 3) The Subjective Well-being Inventory. Two structural equation models were designed and the maximum likelihood estimation method was used for covariance structure analysis. Results Parental care in childhood directly increased well-being in adulthood and indirectly increased it through personality traits (harm avoidance, reward dependence, and self-directedness). Parental overprotection in childhood had no direct effect on well-being in adulthood but decreased well-being in adulthood indirectly through personality traits (harm avoidance, reward dependence, and self-directedness) and increased it through one personality trait (self-transcendence). Conclusions This study showed that the influences of perceived parental bonding on well-being in adulthood are mediated by self-directedness, harm avoidance, reward dependence, and self-transcendence among the seven personality dimensions evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory.


2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (27) ◽  
pp. 1058-1066
Author(s):  
Tamás Dömötör Szalai

Abstract: Introduction: Attachment dysfunctions determine borderline personality disorder, which is a frequent background factor of multi-impulsivity; however, the relationship between attachment and multi-impulsive eating disorders is almost unexplored. Aim: To compare attachment features of multi-impulsive and classical eating disorder patients with individuals without eating disorders, and to test attachment as a predictor of multi-impulsivity. Method: A cross-sectional survey (148 females, mean age: 30.9 years) investigated maternal, paternal and adult attachment, depression, anxiety, eating disorder and multi-impulsive symptoms in these groups. Results: Altogether 41.3% of the individuals without eating disorders, 17.6% of classical and 11.8% of multi-impulsive eating disorder patients had secure attachment. Multi-impulsive patients had the most severe eating disorder symptoms (F(2) = 17.733) and the lowest paternal care (F(2) = 3.443). Preoccupied and fearful attachment explained 14.5% of multi-impulsive symptoms; however, with adjustment for depression only latter one remained the predictor of multi-impulsivity (t = 5.166, p<0.01). Conclusion: Multi-impulsives are a distinct subgroup of eating disorder patients from the aspects of both symptoms and attachment. Handling their negative moods may hold therapeutic potentials. Longitudinal studies are required to investigate the therapeutic value of paternal care, attachment preoccupation and fearfulness. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(27): 1058–1066.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S161-S162
Author(s):  
M. Nigro ◽  
A.M. Monteleone ◽  
L. Steardo ◽  
G. Patriciello ◽  
V. Di Maso ◽  
...  

IntroductionSome temperament characteristics of personality seem to be modulated by oxytocin. Patients suffering from eating disorders (EDs) display aberrant personality traits.Objectives and aimsWe investigated the relationships between plasma oxytocin levels and personality dimensions of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) and compared them to those of healthy controls.MethodsPlasma oxytocin levels were measured in 23 women with AN, 27 women with BN and 19 healthy controls and assessed their personality traits by means of the Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R).ResultsAN patients showed plasma levels of the hormone significantly lower than BN and healthy controls. In healthy women, plasma oxytocin levels resulted significantly correlated negatively with novelty seeking scores and positively with both harm avoidance (HA) scores and the attachment subscale scores of the reward dependence: these correlations explained 82% of the variability in circulating oxytocin. In BN patients, plasma oxytocin resulted negatively correlated with HA, whereas no significant correlations emerged in AN patients.ConclusionsThese findings confirm a dysregulation of oxytocin secretion in AN but not in BN and show, for the first time, that the association of circulating oxytocin to patients’ temperament traits is totally lost in underweight patients with AN and partially lost or even inverted in women with BN. These findings suggest a role of oxytocin in certain deranged behaviours of ED patients, which are influenced by the subjects’ personality traits.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Author(s):  
Zane Krieķe ◽  
Kristīne Mārtinsone ◽  
Viktorija Perepjolkina

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among personality traits, self-esteem and collective self-esteem of Latvian Arts therapists and specifically to examine a potentially mediating role of self-esteem on the correlation between personality traits and collective self-esteem. The sample of the study consisted of 81 Arts therapists of whom data for 74 AT were analysed. The data were collected by Latvian Personality Inventory (LPI-v3), Collective Self-Esteem Scale (CSES), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) including the demographic data. Pearson correlations indicated significant negative moderate correlation between self-esteem and LPI scale Neuroticism, positive moderate correlation between self-esteem and CSES scale Membership self-esteem and between LPI scale Neuroticism and CSES scale Membership self-esteem, therefore mediation analysis was applied to examine the effect of self-esteem on a relationship between Neuroticism and Membership Self-Esteem. Sobel test was used to test the significance of a mediation effect. Results indicated Self-esteem as a significant mediator in the relationship between Neuroticism and Membership self-esteem. The findings of this research suggest that emotional stability and self-esteem influence Latvian Arts therapist’s sense of identifying themselves as members with their professional group. These results are important for further development of Latvian Arts therapist profession to strengthen Art therapist’s professional identity. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Mamah ◽  
C Robert Cloninger ◽  
Victoria N Mutiso ◽  
Isaiah Gitonga ◽  
Albert Tele ◽  
...  

Abstract Specific personality traits have been proposed as a schizophrenia-related endophenotype and confirmed in siblings at risk for psychosis. The relationship of temperament and character with psychosis has not been previously investigated in Africa. The study was conducted in Kenya, and involved participants at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis (n = 268) and controls (n = 251), aged 15–25 years. CHR status was estimated using the Structured Interview of Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) and the Washington Early Psychosis Center Affectivity and Psychosis (WERCAP) Screen. Student’s t-tests were used to assess group differences on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Neurocognitive functioning, stress severity, and substance use were correlated with the TCI, correcting for psychosis severity. CHR participants were more impulsive (ie, higher novelty seeking [NS]) and asocial (ie, lower reward dependence) than controls. They were also more schizotypal (ie, high self-transcendence [ST] and lower self-directedness [SD] and cooperativeness [CO] than controls). CO was related to logical reasoning, abstraction, and verbal memory. Stress severity correlated with high HA and schizotypal character traits. Lifetime tobacco use was related to NS, and lifetime marijuana use to high NS, low SD and high ST. Temperament and character of Kenyan CHR youth is similar to that observed in schizophrenia. Psychosis risk in Kenya is associated with impulsive, asocial, and schizotypal traits. CHR adolescents and young adults with schizophrenia-specific personality traits may be most at risk for developing a psychotic disorder and to require early intervention to improve outcomes.


2003 ◽  
Vol 160 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Brecelj Anderluh ◽  
Kate Tchanturia ◽  
Sophia Rabe-Hesketh ◽  
Janet Treasure

Author(s):  
Stephanie Knatz Peck ◽  
Stuart B. Murray ◽  
Walter H. Kaye

Approximately two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with eating disorders have had one or more concurrent anxiety disorders in their lifetime. Anxiety symptoms most often predate the onset of an eating disorder and are associated with worse outcomes, implicating anxiety as a possible vulnerability factor in the onset and maintenance of an eating disorder. Individuals with eating disorders also tend to possess personality traits associated with anxiety. This significant comorbidity is likely a result of a shared underlying temperament profile that may predispose individuals to both an eating disorder and certain anxiety disorders. Given the negative impact of anxiety on recovery, eating disorder clinicians should be aware of these shared vulnerabilities and, ideally, be equipped to treat comorbid anxiety issues with a working knowledge of best practice treatment approaches. Furthermore, for patients with a dual diagnosis, clinicians must construct an integrative treatment approach taking into account impairments from both illnesses.


Author(s):  
Natasha D. Melunsky ◽  
Francesca Solmi ◽  
Zoë Haime ◽  
Sarah Rowe ◽  
Virginia V. W. McIntosh ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Previous research suggests that eating disorders may be associated with certain personality profiles; however, there is limited research investigating associations with night eating syndrome (NES). This research suggests harm avoidance personality trait is higher in NES individuals than in the general population, however, evidence of associations with other personality traits is inconsistent. To understand which personality traits are associated with NES symptoms, the current study aimed to improve understanding of the relationship between NES symptoms and a range of personality traits, addressing limitations in the earlier literature in this area by controlling for common confounders. Methods Baseline data were analysed from an outpatient psychotherapy trial for 111 women with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Pre-treatment measures of personality traits (measured with the Temperament and character inventory—revised) and NES symptoms (measured with the Night eating questionnaire) were used. Regression analyses tested associations between these variables, adjusting for potential confounders, including age and ethnicity. Results Low cooperativeness scores were associated with greater NES symptoms in the multivariable model (mean difference: − 0.10, 95% confidence intervals: − 0.20 to − 0.01, p = 0.033). There was weak evidence of associations between both high harm avoidance and low self-directedness personality traits and greater NES symptoms. Conclusions This study adds to the limited research measuring associations between a range of personality traits and NES, addressing limitations of previous research. Weak evidence for an association between high harm avoidance and low self-directedness and increased NES symptoms was found. A novel association was found between low cooperativeness and greater NES symptoms. Further research is needed to validate its presence in those with and without comorbid eating disorders and to examine the relative change in NES, eating disorder symptoms and personality scores in treatments focusing on cooperativeness. Level of evidence Level IV (cross-sectional data from a randomised controlled trial, CTB/04/08/139).


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaida Agüera ◽  
Georgios Paslakis ◽  
Lucero Munguía ◽  
Isabel Sánchez ◽  
Roser Granero ◽  
...  

Difficulties in emotion regulation (ER) are common in females with eating disorders (ED). However, no study to date has analyzed ER in males with ED. In the study at hand, we assessed ER in males with ED and compared results to both females with ED and healthy controls (HC). We also examined associations between ER difficulties, personality, and psychopathology. A total of 62 males with ED were compared with 656 females with ED, as well as 78 male and 286 female HC. ER was assessed by means of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). We found that males and females with ED showed greater ER difficulties compared to HC. Pronounced general psychopathology was a shared factor associated with higher ER difficulties in both males and females with ED. However, whereas higher novelty seeking, higher cooperativeness, lower reward dependence, and lower self-directedness were related to higher ER difficulties in females with ED, lower persistence was associated with ER difficulties in males with ED. In sum, males and females with ED show similar ER difficulties, yet they are distinct in how ER deficits relate to specific personality traits. Research on strategies promoting ER in the treatment of males with ED is warranted.


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