Linking Attachment Avoidance and Attachment Anxiety with Eating Disorder Attitudes and Behaviours in a Sample of Nonclinical Albanian Female College Students

Abstract

The present study investigated the link between attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety with mother and eating disorderd attitudes and behaviors in a non clinical sample of Albanian late adolescent female students using the quantitative scientific research method.The sample consisted of 779 female college students,enrolled at two public Albanian universities ( University of Tirana and University of Shkoder) ranging from 18 to 21 years of age (mean age 19.25,SD=.885). Participants completed the following self-reported instruments: the Experience in Close Relationship-Relationship Structures questionnaire (Fraley,Brennan& Waller,2000) and subscales of Body Dissatisfaction, Drive for Thinness and Bulimia of Eating Disorder Inventory- 3 (Garner, 2004). Results revealed that in relation to attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety with mother, female students displayed higher levels of body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and bulimia when compared to female students scoring low in attachment avoidance and anxiety with their mother. The strongest associations were found between attachment avoidance and body dissatisfaction and between attachment anxiety and bulimia. Prevention and treatment programs focused on attachment relationships are recommended.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p506