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Defensive Responses to Early Memories with Peers: a Possible Pathway to Disordered Eating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Cláudia Ferreira ,
Joana Marta-Simões Open the ORCID record for Joana Marta-Simões [Opens in a new window]  and
Inês A. Trindade
Cláudia Ferreira
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Joana Marta-Simões*
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
Inês A. Trindade
Affiliation:
Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Joana Marta-Simões. Universidade de Coimbra - Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. Rua do Colégio Novo. Apartado 6153. 3001–802. Coimbra (Portugal). Phones: +351–239851450; +351–239851462. E-mail: mjoana.gms@gmail.com
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Abstract

Childhood and early adolescence experiences, specifically those that provide an adulthood enriched with warm and safe memories, are consistently stated in literature as powerful emotional regulators. In contrast, individuals who scarcely recall positive experiences may begin to believe that others see the self as inferior, inadequate and unattractive. In order to cope with a perceived loss of social desirability and achieve other’s acceptance, individuals may become submissive, and women, particularly, may resort to the presentation of a perfect body image. Both mechanisms are defensive responses suggested to be associated with mental health difficulties, particularly disordered eating behaviors. The present study aimed at exploring the association between early memories of warmth and safeness with peers and eating psychopathology. Also, a path analysis was conducted to investigate the mediator role of submissiveness and perfectionistic self-presentation focused on body image on this association, in a sample of 342 female students. Results revealed that the absence of early positive memories with peers holds a significant effect over eating psychopathology’s severity, and also that this effect is mediated through submissiveness and body image-related perfectionistic self-presentation. This model accounted for 13%, 19% and 51% of submissiveness, perfectionistic self-presentation of body image and eating psychopathology’s variances, respectively, and showed excellent model fit.

Keywords

defensive responsesearly memorieseating disorders
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 19 , 2016 , E45
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2016 

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