TITLE:
Mindfulness as a Factor in the Relationship between Insecure Attachment Style, Neurotic Personality and Disordered Eating Behavior
AUTHORS:
Aileen Pidgeon, Alexandra Grainger
KEYWORDS:
Mindfulness; Disordered Eating Behavior; Neuroticism; Attachment
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Psychology,
Vol.2 No.4B,
October
22,
2013
ABSTRACT: Mindfulness, conceptualized as a dispositional trait
that differs across individuals, may potentially influence disordered eating
behaviors. Previous research has independently identified insecure attachment
style and neurotic personality traits as correlates of disordered eating
behavior. Thus this current study will investigate whether neurotic personality
traits, insecure attachment style and mindfulness predict disordered eating
behavior controlling for gender differences. Participants (N = 126)
completed the Adult Attachment Scale [1], the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire
– Revised 18 [2], The Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale – Revised [3]
and the International Personality Item Pool [4]. The results of this cross-sectional
study indicated that neurotic personality traits, insecure attachment style and
mindfulness were related to disordered eating behaviors. The variance in
disordered eating behaviors that was accounted for by neurotic personality
traits and insecure attachment style was significantly reduced with the
introduction of mindfulness. The results provides preliminary support for the
inclusion of mindfulness training in disordered eating behavior interventions
for individuals exhibiting an insecure attachment style and neurotic
personality traits. Limitations and implications for further research are
discussed.