An Investigation of the Moderator Role of Parental Bonding in the Relationship between Childhood Trauma and Impaired Eating Attitudes

Abstract

Objectives: Childhood trauma and parental bonding are accepted as non-specific risk factors in eating disorders. However, the interaction of childhood neglect and abuse during childhood; and parental bonding are not yet fully understood. This study tested the hypothetical model in which the parental bonding moderate the relationship between childhood traumas and eating disorder psychopathology. Materials and Methods: The data was collected from a sample group of university students (n=1.100) using the Childhood Trauma scale, the Parental Bonding scale, Eating Attitudes scale and Demographic Information form. Correlation and regression analyzes were used to evaluate the data. Results: The results of the analysis demonstrated that the childhood trauma directly affects eating disorders symptoms. Also, it was determined that the amount of perceived attention/control from mother has a regulatory effect on the relationship between eating attitudes; and physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect. Conclusion: Clinicians may evaluate deterioration in eating attitudes as childhood trauma and parental bonding. Findings demonstrate the importance of the curative effect of therapists’ attention and control behavior.