What predict binge eating disorder in non-clinical female adolescents? Exploring peer attachment and emotional regulation

The Binge Eating Disorder [BED] is the prevalent eating disorder among community adolescents, but little is known about its specific correlates in this developmental stage. Clinical research underlined associations between ED in adolescence and the peer attachment, as well as higher use of potentially disadaptive Emotional Regulation (ER) strategies, such Expressive Suppression (ES; Gross & John, 2003). This is the preliminary report of a larger pilot study —including narrative measures such Friends and Family Interview [FFI]— that aim to investigate the role of these variables with respect to the level of BED symptoms showed by non-clinical adolescents, as to our knowledge there are no studies that have done it before. Participants were 44 girls, aged 14-18 (M = 15.68, SD = 1.1), came from Italian intact families with medium-higher SES. Measures were: 1) the Binge Eating Scale (BES) to measure the levels of BED; 2) the Inventory of Peer and Parent Attachment (IPPA) to assess the levels of Peer attachment, also in terms of Trust, Communication and Alienation, and 3) The Emotional Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (ERQ-CA) to assess the use of ER strategies (Expressive Suppression and Cognitive Reappraisal). Main results showed that higher levels of BED symptoms correlated with lower levels of Peer attachment (rs = –.370, p = .14), higher Alienation to peers (rs = .476, p = .001) and use of ES (rs = .424, p = .004). However, the multiple regression accounted only the Alienation to Peer and the ES as predictor of BED symptoms (adjusted-R2 = .27 p = .01), excluding Peer Attachment (p > .78). Discussing the implications in terms of prevention and health promotion, the authors underline the utility to foster in community female teenagers positive peer relationships, social competences and the reduction of disadaptive ER strategies, such Expressive Suppression.