title: An attachment insecurity model of negative affect among women seeking treatment for an eating disorder.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to propose and test a model of attachment insecurity in a clinical sample of 268 eating disordered women. Structural relationships among attachment insecurity, BMI, perceived pressure to diet, body dissatisfaction, restrained eating, and negative affect were assessed. A heterogeneous sample of treatment seeking women with a diagnosed eating disorder completed psychometric tests prior to receiving treatment. The data were analysed using structural equation modeling. Fit indices indicated that the hypothesized model fit adequately to the data. Although cross-sectional in nature, the data suggested that attachment insecurity may lead to negative affect. As well, attachment insecurity may lead to body dissatisfaction, which in turn may lead to restrained eating among women with eating disorders. Attachment insecurity could be a possible vulnerability factor for the development of eating disorder symptoms among women.
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa, Canada; Ottawa Hospital, Canada. gtasca@ottawhospital.on.ca
authors.forename: Giorgio A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balfour
authors.forename: Kerri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Virley
authors.forename: Hany
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bissada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018450:Disease Progression; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications