The Anorectic Girl and Her Father - The Interpersonal and Intrapsychic Meaning to the Girl

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the role of the fathers of anorectic women. The aim of this study was to investigate the attachment state of mind in anorectic women and their fathers. In addition, two other groups of young women and their fathers were included. Methods: In total there were three groups consisting of women between 18-30 years with anorexia nervosa (AG), drug-dependency problems (DG) and students (SG) without significant problems. We also included the parents of all three groups. The diagnoses of anorexia nervosa and drug-dependency were made according to DSM-IV [1] and ICD-10 [2]. Several methods were used in the study. [3, 4] The Adult Attachment Interview [5] was the focus of this report. Results: The analyses showed that the Anorectic women (AG) had more of a dismissing attachment state of mind, than those who were categorized as enmeshed or secure/autonomous. The attachment of the fathers showed more of a dismissing state of mind than of those categorized as with secure or enmeshed attachment. The subcategories showed that both among the anorectic women and the fathers the dismissing attachment state of mind with restriction of feelings was most represented. The dependent women (DG) had more of an unresolved/enmeshed attachment state of mind than those who were categorized as dismissing or secure/autonomous. The attachment of the fathers showed more of an unresolved/secure attachment state of mind than of those categorized as dismissing or enmeshed. The subcategories showed that enmeshed attachment state of mind of the dependent girls differed from fathers with the unresolved/secure attachment state of mind. Conclusion: This study illustrates the similarities and the differences of attachment styles among anorectic women and their fathers in comparison to the dependent women and their fathers. The insecure attachment is dominant in the two groups but differ in its expressions. The number of participants in the study was low and larger studies are needed to clarify the interpersonal and intra-psychic meaning to the anorectic woman.