Core maladaptive schemas and parental bonding among female adolescent with normal weight, overweight and anorexia symptoms

In recent years, the incidence of anorexia nervosa and obesity in adolescents has increased dramatically. The purpose of the present study was to determine the difference in parental bonding and maladaptive schemas in three groups of female adolescents with normal weight, overweight and anorexia nervosa symptoms. 25 normal weight females (Mean Age: 16.17 y, Mean BMI: 22.56 Kg/m2); 25 overweight females (Mean Age: 16.20 y, Mean BMI: 28.24 Kg/m2); and 25 females with symptoms of anorexia (Mean Age: 16.08 y, Mean BMI: 16.28 Kg/m2) were chosen from a large sample (N: 403) via random clustering sampling. Data was collected through self-report questionnaires of Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI), Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), and Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI). Data were analyzed by SPSS 16, using descriptive statistics along with correlation, multiple regression analyses and analysis of variance. Overweighed adolescent girls reported higher levels of early maladaptive schemas, specially the shame/deficiency type compared with girls with symptoms of anorexia nervosa and normal weighed girls (p<0.01). Those with anorexic symptoms and overweight girls reported higher level of weak parental bonding compared with normal weighed girls (mean and standard deviation: 31.40±11.71, 31±13.5, 23.40±13.36, respectively; p<0.05). Based on the current evidence, it can be concluded that cognitive mechanisms operating through early maladaptive beliefs, have an important predictor role in adolescent’s overweight problems. Additionally, interpersonal parameters, as expressed in the perception of low care and high overprotection from main caregivers by adolescents, often are effective in anorexic symptoms and obesity. Investigation of the effect of early schemas and parental bonding can help in better perception of eating disorder’s etiology.