Poster #83 - Attachment to Mothers Alleviates the Link between Stress and Disordered Eating in Korean Adolescents

• In Event: Poster Session 14

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) are one of the most concerning mental illnesses in adolescence that commonly onset during pre- to late-adolescence (Golden et al., 2016), with growing prevalence worldwide (Galmiche et al., 2019). EDs contribute to serious health complications and deficits in psychological functioning (Klump et al., 2009). Thus, early identification of eating disorder risk factors is crucial. Psychological stress is one of the salient factors known to influence disordered eating (Ball & Lee, 2000). However, existing literature on the association between stress and disordered eating has primarily focused on clinical samples or female students. Furthermore, the parent-child attachment affecting regulatory functioning (Mikulincer et al., 2003) has been understudied in the association. A secure parent-children relationship serves as a context in which children develop self-regulatory capacities related to emotion, behaviors, and cognition (Pallini et al., 2018). To better understand factors leading to or protecting against the onset of EDs, this study investigated the association between adolescents’ stress and eating attitudes and parent-child attachment as a moderating factor in the relation among Korean adolescents.

A sample of 567 (41.1% Male; Mage = 14.91, SDage = 2.34) participating in the school-based positive psychology intervention program provided data at baseline. Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Gardner et al., 1982) was used to identify eating disorder risk based on attitude, behaviors, and feeling toward foods, with higher scores indicating greater concerns about dieting and preoccupation with food. Using the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al., 1983), students self-reported the extent to which aspects of their lives are perceived as uncontrollable and unpredictable. Inventory of Parents and Peer Attachment (IPPA-R; Armsden & Greenberg, 1987) was implemented to assess adolescents’ attachment to their mothers, including 28 questions related to trust, communication, and anger/alienation in mothers. Greater scores on IPPA-R represent more secure relationships with mothers. Parents reported family financial status (SES) and marital status.

The result of the moderation analysis using lm function in R showed that adolescents with higher stress demonstrated greater disordered eating attitudes while adjusting for gender, age, SES, and marital status (b = 1.509, SE =.586, p =.010). Importantly, adolescents’ attachment to mothers moderated the negative effect of perceived stress on disordered eating attitudes (b = -2.415, SE =.603, p < .001). For those who maintain poorer attachment with their mothers, stress increased disordered eating attitudes (-1 SD: b = 3.430, SE =.751, p < .001). However, the relation between stress and disordered eating was not significant for those with attachment at higher levels (+1 SD: b = .148, SE =.671, p =.852) (Table 1 and Figure 1). This result held consistent while adjusting for self-esteem, a strong correlate to EDs (Cervera et al., 2003). This study confirmed the influence of secure attachment on regulating stress and the development of disordered eating behaviors across adolescence and no gender differences in this regard. The intervention and prevention strategies to disordered eating should consider ways to better manage increasing but still unresolved stress and building more secure relationships with their parents.

Authors

• Joo Hyun Kim, Seoul National University
  Presenting Author

• Sung-Ha Lee, Center for Happiness Studies Seoul National University

• Oh-Ryeong Ha, University of Missouri - Kansas City

• Incheol Choi, Seoul National University