TY - JOUR

T1 - Disturbances in the experiences of embodiment related to attachment, mentalization and self-objectification in anorexia nervosa

AU - Katznelson, Hannah

AU - Daniel, Sarah

AU - Poulsen, Stig Bernt

AU - Lunn, Susanne

AU - Buhl-Nielsen, Bernadette Margaret A

AU - Sjögren, Magnus

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - BackgroundBody image disturbance is central to both the understanding and treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN); however, the underlying psychological processes involved are still not well understood. One way towards a better understanding of these mechanisms may be to explore the sense of embodiment in these patients in an attempt at integrating the role of the body in our understanding of the development of self in AN. It is hypothesized that difficulties in affective experiences of embodiment is related to insecure attachment, deficits in mentalization and self-objectification.MethodsSixteen inpatients with AN were interviewed with the Mirror Interview (MI). In the interview, the individual is asked a set of questions related to thoughts and feelings about the body while standing in front of a full-length mirror. Furthermore, all patients were assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview, which was coded for both attachment and mentalization (operationalized by the Reflective Functioning scale; RF). Self-objectification was measured with the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS).ResultsResults from a multiple regression analysis showed that Global MI scores were significantly associated with Coherence of mind as an indicator of attachment, RF and scores on the OBCS.ConclusionsThe study suggests that affective experiences of embodiment in patients with AN are associated with negative attachment representations, mentalizing impairments and objectified body consciousness.

AB - BackgroundBody image disturbance is central to both the understanding and treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN); however, the underlying psychological processes involved are still not well understood. One way towards a better understanding of these mechanisms may be to explore the sense of embodiment in these patients in an attempt at integrating the role of the body in our understanding of the development of self in AN. It is hypothesized that difficulties in affective experiences of embodiment is related to insecure attachment, deficits in mentalization and self-objectification.MethodsSixteen inpatients with AN were interviewed with the Mirror Interview (MI). In the interview, the individual is asked a set of questions related to thoughts and feelings about the body while standing in front of a full-length mirror. Furthermore, all patients were assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview, which was coded for both attachment and mentalization (operationalized by the Reflective Functioning scale; RF). Self-objectification was measured with the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS).ResultsResults from a multiple regression analysis showed that Global MI scores were significantly associated with Coherence of mind as an indicator of attachment, RF and scores on the OBCS.ConclusionsThe study suggests that affective experiences of embodiment in patients with AN are associated with negative attachment representations, mentalizing impairments and objectified body consciousness.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - body image

KW - embodiment

KW - anorexia nervosa

KW - attachment

KW - mentalization

KW - self-objectification

U2 - 10.1186/s40337-021-00463-z

DO - 10.1186/s40337-021-00463-z

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34688309

VL - 9

JO - Journal of Eating Disorders

JF - Journal of Eating Disorders

SN - 2050-2974

M1 - 137

ER -