High Anxiety Attachment in Eating Disorders: Intergenerational Transmission by Mothers and Fathers / Apego de Alta Ansiedade em Transtornos Alimentares: Transmissão Intergeracional por Mães e Pais / Apego de Ansiedad Alta en Trastornos de la Alimentación: La Transmisión Intergeneracional de las Madres y los Padres

Abstract Research on eating disorders (ED) has shown in patients a prevalence of insecure attachment working models (IWMs). Nevertheless, the issue of a prevalence, in patients, of high anxiety IWMs (HAIWMs) has rarely been addressed. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence in ED patients of high anxiety IWMs and their transmission by parents. The Separation Anxiety Test was administered to 55 patients with an ED, a control sample (n = 80), their mothers and fathers. The two groups differed significantly, with a prevalence of HAIWMs in the patients and their parents compared to the controls; in ED no significant difference appeared in mother-patient versus father-patient matching for HAIWMs. The implication is that patients with an ED might benefit more from individual attachment-based therapy and/or a family therapy than from other types of psychotherapeutic approaches.

Resumo A pesquisa sobre transtornos alimentares (TA) tem demonstrado em pacientes um predomínio de modelos operacionais internos (MOI) inseguros. No entanto, a questão da prevalência de MOI de alta ansiedade (MOIAA) em pacientes raramente tem sido investigada. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a prevalência em pacientes TA (com distúrbios alimentares) de MOI com alta ansiedade e sua possível transmissão por parte dos pais. O Separation Anxiety Test foi administrado a 55 pacientes com TA, uma amostra de controle (n = 80), suas mães e pais. Os dois grupos diferiram significativamente com prevalência de MOIAA nos pacientes e seus pais em comparação com os sujeitos de controle. No grupo TA nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada na díade mãe-paciente versus pai-paciente similares quanto à MOIAA. A implicação é que os pacientes com TA podem se beneficiar mais por uma terapia individual e/ou familiar baseada no apego do que outros tipos de abordagens psicoterapêuticas.

Resumen La investigación sobre los trastornos de la alimentación (TA) ha demostrado en pacientes un predominio de Modelos Operativos Internos (MOI) inseguros. Sin embargo, la cuestión de la prevalencia en pacientes de MOI que se caracteriza por altos niveles de ansiedad (MOIAA) se ha investigado raras veces. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la prevalencia en pacientes TA (con trastornos alimentarios) de MOI con alta ansiedad y su posible transmisión por parte de los padres. El Separation Anxiety Test de Bowlby se administró a 55 pacientes con un trastorno de la alimentación (TA), una muestra de control (n = 80), sus padres y madres. Los dos grupos difirieron significativamente, con una prevalencia de MOIAA en los pacientes y sus padres, en comparación con los sujetos de control; en el grupo TA, no se encontró ninguna diferencia significativa en la madre-paciente frente a la relación padre-paciente similares con relación a MOIAA. La implicación es que los pacientes con TA pueden beneficiarse más de una terapia individual y/o familiar basado en el apego que otros tipos de enfoques psicoterapéuticos.

Locus of control in maltreated children: the impact of attachment and cumulative trauma

Abstract Up until now research studies carried out on abused children have rarely taken in consideration the impact of maltreatment on the locus of control; furthermore results concerning the distribution of attachment internal models in this population are inconclusive. In addition, no study has ever taken in consideration the differential role of attachment and time of exposure to stress in the formation of attributive styles. This research work involved 60 maltreated children and 100 controls with the purpose of evaluating the associations between their attachment and age as for their locus of control. Internal Working Models were assessed by SAT and locus of control by the Nowicki-Strickland Scale. Results highlight mainly external locus of control and disorganized and avoidant IWMs in abused children. Furthermore, age was more predictive than attachment for locus of control. By contrast, in the control group at both age taken in consideration attachment was predictive of locus of control. Results are discussed in terms of problematic symptoms associated to maltreatment. (AU)