Father Types of Anorexia nervosa Patients: The ‘Bonding’, the ‘Brutal’, the ‘Weak’ and the ‘Absent’ Father

Engel, Klaus; Stienen, Michael

doi:10.1159/000288077

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This climate is best illustrated by the measures ‘nudity as a familial taboo’ and ‘sexuality not discussed in the family’, both of which were reported by the majority of eating-disordered patients. Although the literature describes dysfunctions, motherly overprotection, and conflict avoidance in families with eating disorder [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 18, 53, 54, 55], there are almost no studies looking at specific body-focused behaviors within the family.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these studies have described a ‘disordered’ family system, characterized by an emphasis on dieting and physical appearance, conflict avoidance, motherly overprotection, absence of the father, and presentation of an intact family to outsiders [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]. In particular, recent case-control studies of subjects with bulimia [19]and anorexia nervosa [20]have demonstrated that these individuals exhibited greater childhood exposure to factors likely to increase the risk of dieting, and greater negative self-evaluation, even when compared to individuals with other psychiatric disorders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Mangweth

Hausmann

Danzl

et al. 2005

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: The risk factors for adolescent eating disorders are poorly understood. It is generally agreed, however, that interactions with one’s body and interactions with others are two important features in the development of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Therefore, we assessed a variety of childhood body-focused behaviors and childhood social behaviors in eating-disordered patients as compared to non-eating-disordered subjects. Method: We compared 50 female inpatients with eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia nervosa), 50 female inpatients with polysubstance dependence, and 50 nonpatient female control subjects with no history of eating or substance abuse disorders (all defined by DSM-IV criteria), using a semi-structured interview of our own design. We asked questions about (1) childhood body-focused behaviors (e.g. thumb-sucking) and body-focused family experiences (e.g. bodily caresses), and (2) childhood social behaviors (e.g. numbers of close friends) and family social styles (e.g. authoritarian upbringing). Results: Many body-focused measures, such as feeding problems, auto-aggressive behavior, lack of maternal caresses, and family taboos regarding nudity and sexuality, characterized eating-disordered patients as opposed to both comparison groups, as did several social behaviors, such as adjustment problems at school and lack of close friends. However, nail-biting, insecure parental bonding, and childhood physical and sexual abuse were equally elevated in both psychiatric groups. Conclusion: It appears that eating-disordered patients, as compared to substance-dependent patients and healthy controls, show a distinct pattern of body-focused and social behaviors during childhood, characterized by self-harm, a rigid and ‘body-denying’ family climate, and lack of intimacy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Mangweth

Hausmann

Danzl

et al. 2005

Psychother Psychosom

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“…Social factors therefore have greater weight than somatic and psychologi cal factors [12]. We further refined the dis criminate analysis of the role of individual family members, as far as the father's role is concerned, and were able to distinguish four father types, by way of a comparison with normal controls: the 'absent', the 'weak', the 'bonding', and the 'brutal' father [13], Sig nificant differences vis-à-vis the families of normal controls were found only with re gard to 'bonding' and 'brutal' fathers. Simi larly differentiating studies should be con ducted in future on the subject of the moth er's role, based on empirical comparisons with normal controls.…”

Section: Investigative Techniquementioning

confidence: 99%

An Interaction Model of Anorexia nervosa

Engel¹,

Höhne²

1989

Psychother Psychosom

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Noticeable similarities were found in the psychosocial field by a comparison of a group of anorexia nervosa patients with a representative sample of normal controls. In particular, no confirmation could be found of the mother dominance coupled with the weak and frequently absent father, as postulated under the interactional model of anorexia nervosa. Empirical discriminate analyses of the role of individual family members are necessary.

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“…In relation to AN, early research focused mainly on the mothers' role in relation to their daughters, whereas the father's parental role was mostly neglected for a long time (Phares et al, 1992, 2005). Among the few exceptions is the research by Jeammet et al (1973) and Engel and Stienen (1988), who focused early on the fathers' role and relation with their anorectic daughters. Recent research also indicates that the father–daughter relationship plays a significant role in eating disorder (Jones et al, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the few exceptions is the research by Jeammet et al (1973) and Engel and Stienen (1988), who focused early on the fathers' role and relation with their anorectic daughters. Recent research also indicates that the father-daughter relationship plays a significant role in eating disorder (Jones et al, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anorexia nervosa seen from a fathers' perspectives: A thematic analysis

Bratt Neuberg,

Andersson

2023

Mental Health Science

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Few studies have explored the views of fathers in relation to daughters diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN). The aim of this study was to investigate this aspect. This study was part of a larger study. Fourteen fathers (age 46–68 years) of 14 daughters (age 19–29 years) diagnosed with AN were interviewed between 1996 and 2002. The interview consisted of 15 open‐ended questions exploring the views of fathers in relation to their daughters later diagnosed with AN. Following transcription, thematic analysis was used to identify main themes and subthemes based on the data. We identified three themes: “Family dynamic,” “Proximity and distance to the daughter,” and “Commitment and knowledge seeker,” and 10 subthemes. The fathers were involved during the upbringing and the relation to the daughter was important. Different studies show the importance of the paternal role for the daughter's healthy development, and for AN. Not sharing equally, the responsibility of early childcaring, could foster the experience of inadequacy regarding the paternal role in the future. In our study, the fathers considered the mothers to be the experts during the daughters' adolescence. This attitude could have hindered them from understanding their daughters pathological eating problems. This and other studies indicate the importance of viewing the fathers as a resource when planning treatment approaches.

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Father Types of Anorexia nervosa Patients: The ‘Bonding’, the ‘Brutal’, the ‘Weak’ and the ‘Absent’ Father

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

Childhood Body-Focused Behaviors and Social Behaviors as Risk Factors of Eating Disorders

An Interaction Model of Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa seen from a fathers' perspectives: A thematic analysis

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