He mother-child bond During early life it can be a factor that promotes or prevents mental health problems. The development of alterations related to the function of feeding can be directly related to the attachment style built between the mother and the child.
A mother who feels dissatisfied with her body, with anorexic or bulimic eating habits, can seriously interfere with her children’s feeding and contribute to the development of a disorder of this type, especially if there are other emotional vulnerability factors.
The influence of bonding on eating patterns
As we have seen in other articles, there are a series that were defined by John Bowlby, the main promoter of this theory.
The Eating Disorders They are normally related to , which usually have as a trait the emotional instability of the individual. The development of distressing bonds has a clear impact on the development of psychopathological alterations.
The approaches and findings of other authors, such as Winnicott and Mahler, also show us that the disturbances that occur during early development translate into behavioral problems and personality alterations.
In eating disorders, especially anorexia and bulimia nervosa, the alteration of the process of separation and individuation between mothers and daughters is observed. The bond created has not allowed the autonomy of the son or daughter, who functions as a whole with his or her mother. Many children are overly involved with their mothers. The impossibility of achieving this autonomy through a healthy bond leads to behaviors such as those observed in eating disorders.
Attachment styles as risk factors for eating disorders
There are a series of risk factor’s referring to the bond between mothers or families with respect to their children that can favor the development of this type of disorders. Among others, the following stand out:
- Family history of eating disorders and obesity
- Affective illnesses or alcoholism
- The mother’s attitude during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Parental restrictions on feeding, irregular feeding behaviors
- Self-perception, low self-esteem, dissatisfaction with body image
- Control of your weight and your figure
- Prejudices towards the silhouette of their daughters
- Excessive concern about their own weight or that of their daughters
- Negative feelings transmitted to girls during meals
- Overprotection of children that interferes with their autonomy
The consideration of attachment style for the treatment and prevention of these disorders
As we have seen, studies show that attachment patterns developed within the mother-child bond influence the appearance of eating disorders.
Thus, they are very useful to understand the development of this type of disorders.
However, they are also of great importance for their prevention with women who have suffered or suffer from this type of alterations and are going to be mothers.
On the other hand, another relevant conclusion of the research is the convenience of include mothers and families in treatment of people with eating disorders.
.