Three aspects of family life associated to eating disorders

It is generally accepted that the causes of eating disorders constitute a complex set of phenomena involving the interplay of biological, psychological and social factors. Within this etiological framework, family relationships have received considerable attention as either risk or maintenance factors. In an attempt to identify family factors that seem specific to eating disorders, three dimensions of family life were compared: Family dynamics, attitudes toward the aesthetic body shape model and eating habits. Sixty eight Spanish families participated (34 had one daughter with an eating disorder and 34 acted as control group). Mothers, fathers and daughters of each family answered three scales. Data were analyzed in relation to the presence of the disorder using a stepwise linear discriminate function analysis. A high presence of worry regarding the aesthetic body shape model and less importance given to the development dimension within the family dynamic discriminated eating disordered daughters from control group daughters.