Parent-daughter emotional dyssynchrony correlates with personality and psychopathology in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

PURPOSE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a major concern in adolescents. Attachment problems contribute to its pathogenesis and maintenance. This research explores the relationship between parent-daughter emotional dyssynchrony and the psychopathology of AN daughters.

METHODS

One hundred and fourteen female adolescents with AN and their parents participated in this study. The daughters completed the youth self-report (YSR) and other self-report measures of personality, eating, and general psychopathology. The parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). The YSR and CBCL ratings were compared and the difference was considered a measure of emotional dyssynchrony. Dyssynchrony scores were correlated with daughters' personality and psychopathology.

RESULTS

Mothers scored lower on 15/21 (71%), and fathers scored lower on 11/21 (52%). Mothers scored higher than fathers did in thought problems. Mothers' dyssynchrony was positively related to their daughters' harm avoidance and negatively related to their self-directedness. Both parents' dyssynchrony correlated with their daughters' eating habits and general psychopathology. Dyssynchrony in each psychopathological measure of YSR was positively correlated with specific daughters' psychopathological traits.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents' perceptions underestimate the suffering of adolescents with AN. Mothers' perception was worse than that of fathers, possibly because of greater overinvolvement. Parent-daughter dyssynchrony is largely related to daughters' psychopathology. This cross-sectional study could not confirm whether dyssynchrony contributed to the onset of AN or follows it. Interventions that promote emotional synchronization may aid in the treatment of adolescents with AN.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.