What may underlie differing perceptions of family functioning between mothers and their adolescent daughters with eating disorders?

Abstract

Daughters with eating disorders (ED) were found to perceive family functioning more negatively than their mothers. This study examined variables that may underlie these differences in a subgroup of adolescent girls and their mothers from the original study. Methods: Participants were 77 mother-adolescent daughter dyads. Daughters met current DSM-IV criteria for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or ED Not Otherwise Specified. Daughters and mothers completed the Family Assessment Device (FAD), which measures perceptions of family functioning with seven subscales. Daughters also completed the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI). Backward elimination stepwise regressions were conducted on difference scores between mothers and daughters for each FAD subscale. Daughter's EDI subscales (except Bulimia) were entered as possible predictors. Results: Interpersonal Distrust was the only predictor of the differences between daughters and mothers on Problem Solving, Communication, Affective Responsiveness and General Functioning, accounting for 24%, 14%, 10% and 23% of the variance, respectively. Conclusions: Differences in viewpoints between mothers and daughters regarding the family environment may be understood in terms of the daughters' level of distrust of people in general and their overall feelings of inadequacy. Addressing these psychological difficulties may have powerful implications both for individual and family treatment in the recovery from an eating disorder. Could this be part of the dynamic that led to the eating disorder, a result of the stress on the whole family related to the eating disorder or some combination?

Avaliação do funcionamento familiar no contexto da saúde mental

“…A partir desta revisão, alguns estudos 19,22,25,26,28 concluíram que pacientes com transtornos psiquiátricos tendem a ter uma pior percepção do funcionamento familiar do que seus familiares. Uma possível explicação para isso é a de que os sintomas decorrentes do diagnóstico psiquiátrico desencadeiem, no paciente, a necessidade de receber mais apoio afetivo dos familiares.…”

“…A análise do funcionamento familiar de crianças e adolescentes pertencentes ao grupo de risco para desenvolvimento de depressão também foi objetivo de alguns artigos 20,21 . Outros identificaram as diferenças na percepção do funcionamento familiar entre seus membros 24,25,29 . Estudos comparativos entre famílias com pacientes psiquiátricos e grupo controle também foram realizados 9,12,13,16,17,19,26,28 .…”

“…Os principais resultados mostraram que o filho com transtorno psiquiátrico tende a perceber o funcionamento familiar de forma mais disfuncional do que seus pais 19,22,25,26,28 . Transtorno mental presente na mãe foi associado à relação familiar mais disfuncional 16,21 .…”

Chronic Disorders in Children and Adolescents

“…Dancyger et al (2006) discovered that the daughters' general distrust of people explained differences between mothers and daughters' scores in problem solving, communication, affective responsiveness, and general functioning.…”

Construção de sentidos sobre a participação do pai no tratamento de filhas com diagnóstico de transtornos alimentares

“…Até hoje, vários autores descrevem e buscam compreender esse transtorno pelo viés de uma relação disfuncional entre mãe e filha (Cooley, Toray, Wang, & Valdez, 2008;Dancyger, Fornari, & Sunday, 2006;Francis & Birch, 2005;Hanna & Bond, 2006). Essas contribuições têm se mostrado muito presentes no meio científico, influenciando, inclusive, a conduta dos profissionais responsáveis pela direção do tratamento.…”