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Elham Zamirpour moghadamnia; Isaac Rahimian Boogar; Siavash Talepasand
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the structural effect of personality functioning and attachment styles on emotional eating by considering the mediating factor of defense mechanisms. Method: In the correlation design with structural equation modeling method, 800 participants were selected ...
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Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the structural effect of personality functioning and attachment styles on emotional eating by considering the mediating factor of defense mechanisms. Method: In the correlation design with structural equation modeling method, 800 participants were selected by compliance sampling method. The data collected with Eating Behavior Questionnaire, the Collins and Reed Adult Attachment Style Questionnaire, the Defense Styles Questionnaire and the short form of The Personality Function Levels Scale was completed by the sample. Results: The level of personality functioning (0.52) and the secure (0.91), anxious (0.39) and avoidant (0.51) attachment style have a direct structural effects on emotional eating (P<0.05). The level of personality functioning, considering the mediating factor of mature (0.76), immature (0.83) and neurotic (0.79) defense mechanisms, has an indirect structural effect on emotional eating (P<0.05). Secure (0.61), anxious (0.61) and avoidant (0.72) attachment styles have an indirect structural effect on emotional eating with mediating factor of mature defense mechanisms (P<0.05). Secure (0.78), anxious (0.60) and avoidant (0.79) attachment styles have an indirect structural effect on emotional eating with mediating factor of immature defense mechanisms(P<0.05). Secure (0.86), anxious (0.67) and avoidant (0.73) attachment styles have an indirect structural effect on emotional eating with mediating factor of neurotic defense mechanisms (P<0.05). The results showed that the structural model has an acceptable fit with the collected data. The fit of the structural model implies the direct and indirect role of personality functioning level and attachment styles on emotional eating, considering the mediating role of defense mechanisms. Conclusion: Personality disorders have been linked to uncontrolled and binge eating, suggesting that individuals who binge eat may have more maladaptive and less adaptive personality traits. The emotion regulation theory of eating behavior proposes that emotional eating can improve mood by reducing negative emotions. This overlap in emotion regulation between personality functioning and emotional eating may explain their relationship. Immature defense mechanisms are associated with emotional eating, which acts as a strategic defense to alleviate negative emotions, though it often leads to problems. The way mothers and children interact during stressful situations shapes a child's self-regulation, cognitive and emotional foundations, and coping strategies. Without secure attachment, individuals may struggle to regulate their emotions effectively, resorting to unhealthy strategies like binge eating. These findings could inform the development of psychological interventions and treatment protocols for binge eating and obesity.
