PSYCHOTHERAPY
Family Context of Eating Problems in Adolescents: Population Study among Parents and Rationale for Specific Targets of Psychological Prevention and Psychotherapy
Author information
- A.V. Sukhanova
- A.B. Kholmogorova
- Doctor of Science in Psychology, Professor, Dean of the Counseling and Clinical Psychology Department, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education (MSUPE)
- Published
- March 30, 2022
- Pages
- 56-67
Abstract
Relevance. Scarce information on the prevalence of eating problems (EPs) among adolescents in non-clinical populations, as well as the importance of developing evidence-based and effective prevention and psychotherapy programs for eating disorders (EDs) and EPs underlies the need to study family factors of EDs in children and adolescents.
Study goal. To perform a survey among parents on the subject of their children’s EPs and body weight abnormalities and to evaluate associations between the issues identified and dysfunctional family communications, perfectionism, and the parents’ EPs so as to build and provide a rationale for the targets of psychological prevention and psychotherapy of EPs and EDs in adolescents,
Methods. The parents were asked to fill out a self-report measure targeting specific aspects of their children’s eating behaviors, height and weight, and to fill out several questionnaires: the Eating Disorder Inventory (a Russian version); Garanyan Kholmogorova’s Three-Factor Perfectionism Questionnaire; the Physical Appearance Perfectionism Scale; and the “Family Affective Communications” Inventory.
Sample. The study sample included 118 parents of adolescents (aged 11 to 17 years old), including 64 parents of boys and 54 parents of girls. Most study participants were women (114 people).
Results. The parents reported a high frequency of EPs in the adolescents (74 respondents, 63 % of the sample), although the parents sought professional advice on that issue very infrequently. Families where children had EP signs or body weight abnormalities had most marked dysfunctional communications (the parents were focused on maintaining a positive façade; avoided discussing issues of concern and speaking openly about feelings). The parents in these families had a higher level
of perfectionism and more marked EPs.
Main conclusion: the parents of children with EPs and body weight abnormalities had higher levels of perfectionism, eating problems, and were also prone to a more dysfunctional style of family communications. This proves the need to engage the whole family in for prevention activities and family psychotherapy when working with adolescents with EPs and EDs.
Keywords
- eating disorders
- eating problems
- teenagers
- parents
- dysfunctional family communications
- perfectionism
- family factors
- prevention in psychology
- family psychotherapy
How to Cite
References
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