RT Journal Article
T1 Mediators linking insecure attachment to eating symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis
A1 Cortés García, Laura Cristina
A1 Takkouche, Bahi
A1 Seoane Pesqueira, Gloria
A1 Senra Rivera, María del Carmen
AB In the last two decades, the number of studies focused on the mediators connecting insecure attachment with Eating Disorders (EDs), at both clinical and sub-clinical level, has considerably increased. However, there has not been a systematic synthesis of this literature to date. To fill this gap, the  current meta-analytic review aimed at identifying and quantifying the extent to which mediators contribute to the explanation of this relationship. The present study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017076807). A comprehensive search process in seven different electronic databases retrieved 24 studies that examined how insecure attachment leads to ED symptoms through mediation analysis. Standardized regression coefficients of the indirect and total paths of 21 mediation models were pooled. Studies were coded and ranked for quality. We found evidence to show that maladaptive emotion regulation and depressive symptoms had the highest effect size for mediation (mediation ratio [PM] = 0.71). Further, body dissatisfaction, neuroticism, perfectionism, mindfulness and social comparison had significant, but moderate to low mediating effects (PM = 0.21–0.58). The methodological quality of these studies was mostly low to moderate and potential areas for development were highlighted. Our findings support the direct targeting of these psychological constructs in prevention programs and treatment  of EDs. Future investigations addressing the time sequence between the variables will provide valuable clues to untangle the prospective contribution of each variable on the development and maintenance of eating pathology.
PB PLOS
YR 2019
FD 2019
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/21108
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/21108
LA eng
NO Cortés-García L, Takkouche B, Seoane G, Senra C (2019) Mediators linking insecure attachment to eating symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE 14(3): e0213099. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213099
NO Dr. Takkouche would like to thank the Regional Ministry of Education, Universities and Vocational Training (Consellería de Educación, Universidades y Formación Profesional) (ED431C 2018/20), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026