@article{ref1,
title="Attachment insecurity mediates the relationship between childhood trauma and eating disorder psychopathology in a clinical sample: A structural equation model",
journal="Child abuse and neglect",
year="2013",
author="Tasca, Giorgio A. and Ritchie, Kerri and Zachariades, Fotini and Proulx, Genevieve and Trinneer, Anne and Balfour, Louise and Demidenko, Natasha and Hayden, Genevieve and Wong, Alison and Bissada, Hany",
volume="37",
number="11",
pages="926-933",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: Childhood maltreatment occurs often among those with an eating disorder and is considered a nonspecific risk factor. However, the mechanisms by which childhood maltreatment may lead to an eating disorder are not well understood. The current study tests a model in which attachment insecurity is hypothesized to mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and eating disorder psychopathology. METHOD: Treatment seeking adults with eating disorders (N=308) completed questionnaires about childhood maltreatment, eating disorder psychopathology, and adult attachment. RESULTS: Structural equation models indicated that childhood trauma had a direct effect on eating disorder symptoms. Also, attachment anxiety and avoidance each equally mediated the childhood maltreatment to eating disorder psychopathology relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Attachment insecurity, characterized by affect dysregulation and interpersonal sensitivities may help to explain why eating disorder symptoms may be one consequence of childhood maltreatment in a clinical sample. Clinicians treating primarily those with trauma might assess for disordered eating as a potential manifestation of the sequelae of trauma and attachment insecurity.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0145-2134",
doi="10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.03.004",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.03.004"
}