Perception of transgenerational family relationships: Comparison of eating-disordered patients and their parents

Abstract

BackgroundDisturbances in various elements of transgenerational family functioning patterns are not uncommon in studies of eating disorders.We examined the relationship between patients’ perception of autonomy and intimacy in their families of origin and that of their parents in their own families of origin.Material/MethodsThe sample consisted of 112 girls who had a diagnosis of an eating disoder and their parents; 54 of the girls were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa restrictive subtype, 22 as anorexia nervosa binge/purge subtype, and 36 were diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. We had 2 control groups: 1 group consisted of 36 girls diagnosed with a depressive episode, dysthymia, or adjustment disorder with depressed mood and the other group was 85 female students from schools in Cracow, Poland and their parents. We used the the Family of Origin Scale to assess perception of family relationships. Statistical analysis was performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0.PL; Chicago, IL, USA).ResultsThere was a significant association between daughters’ and fathers’ perceptions of autonomy in their families of origin in all groups. There was no significant association between daughters’ and mothers’ perceptions in all groups. The strongest correlation was between the non-clinical sample of girls and their fathers and for the bulimic group.ConclusionsWe did not detect any link indicating the specificity of transgenerational transmission of autonomy and intimacy in eating disorders. The results point to the importance of the father figure in studies of family systems, including the context of family transmission.

The Role of Family Relationships in Eating Disorders in Adolescents: A Narrative Review

“…For instance, recent studies have found that poor maternal emotional regulation can lead to problems in family functioning due to distancing or excessive responsiveness. In particular, difficulties in maternal emotional regulation in families with adolescents could lead to increased risk for children in this particular stage of development [65,66]. Moreover, a recent study has pointed out that difficulties between parents and children involve negative psychological consequences for adolescents [43].…”

Attachment Styles and Psychopathology among Adolescent Children of Parents with Bipolar Disorder

“…In addition, it was demonstrated that parents with psychopathology show maladaptive parental behaviors that mediate the development of psychopathology in children, especially in the adolescent period [ 27 ]. Many studies have focussed on the role of parental perception in the development of psychopathology in children, and it has been reported that parents of adolescents with eating disorders showed lower emotional participation and sensitivity and higher controlling and rejecting behavior [ 28 – 30 ].…”

Outcome of Polish teenage patients with eating disorders

“…47 patients were diagnosed with restrictive anorexia (ANR), 16 with binge-purge anorexia (ANBP), 34 with bulimia nervosa (BUL), 15 patients were eligible for the ED-NOS category, 7 of whom had signs of subclinical restrictive anorexia (ANRS), 6 with subclinical binge-purge anorexia (ANBPS), and 2 with bulimia with subclinical characteristics (BULS). The DGN1 study results formed the basis for a number of publications describing the interactions between the occurrence of eating disorders and several psychosocial variables [15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”