Research Article

The effects of separatıon-individuation characteristics in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Volume: 64 Number: 1 March 12, 2025
TR EN

The effects of separatıon-individuation characteristics in adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between separation-individuation characteristics, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life in adolescents diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN). Materials and Methods: The study included a sample of 21 cases who were presented at the Ege University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit and received a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. The study utilized the Sociodemographic Data Form, the Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA), and the Children’s Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Results: Negative correlations were found for the scores of rejection expectancy and need denial from the separation-individuation subscales with peer enmeshment and quality of life functionality (r = -0.67; p = 0.002; r = -0.61; p = 0.007). A positive correlation was found between the practicing-mirroring scores of the cases and the affect-related quality of life functionality (r = 0.55; p = 0.018). Conclusion: The study suggests that difficulties in separation-individuation among adolescents with anorexia nervosa are linked to a decline in quality of life. Recognizing and addressing separation-individuation challenges, which are believed to contribute to the development of anorexia nervosa and its psychodynamic etiology, is crucial for improving quality of life and ensuring effective treatment.

Keywords

References

  1. Micali N, Hagberg KW, Petersen I, Treasure JL. The incidence of eating disorders in the UK in 2000-2009: findings from the General Practice Research Database. BMJ Open. 2013 May 28;3(5):e002646. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-002646.
  2. Button EJ, Chadalavada B, Palmer RL. Mortality and predictors of death in a cohort of patients presenting to an eating disorders service. Int J Eat Disord. 2010 Jul;43(5):387-92. doi: 10.1002/eat.20715.
  3. Jalali-Farahani S, Chin YS, Mohd Nasir MT, Amiri P. Disordered eating and its association with overweight and health-related quality of life among adolescents in selected high schools of Tehran. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2015;46(3):485–92. doi: 10.1007/s10578-014-0489-8.
  4. Zeiler M, Waldherr K, Philipp J, Nitsch M, Dür W, Karwautz A, et al. Prevalence of Eating Disorder Risk and Associations with Health-related Quality of Life: Results from a Large School-based Population Screening. Eur Eat Disord Rev. 2016;24(1):9–18. doi: 10.1002/erv.2368.
  5. Kessler RC, Berglund PA, Chiu WT, Deitz AC, Hudson JI, Shahly V, et al. The prevalence and correlates of binge eating disorder in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. Biol Psychiatry. 2013 May 1;73(9):904-14. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.11.020.
  6. Le Grange D, Swanson SA, Crow SJ, Merikangas KR. Eating disorder not otherwise specified presentation in the US population. Int J Eat Disord. 2012 Jul;45(5):711-8. doi: 10.1002/eat.22006.
  7. Agras WS. The consequences and costs of the eating disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2001 Jun;24(2):371-9. doi: 10.1016/s0193-953x(05)70232-x.
  8. Rikani AA, Choudhry Z, Choudhry AM, Ikram H, Asghar MW, Kajal D, et al. A critique of the literature on etiology of eating disorders. Ann Neurosci. 2013 Oct;20(4):157-61. doi: 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.200409.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

March 12, 2025

Submission Date

May 16, 2024

Acceptance Date

October 30, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 64 Number: 1

Vancouver
1.Hakan Kayış, Reyhan Çalışan, Gökçe Anılır, Sezen Köse, Tezan Bildik, Burcu Özbaran. The effects of separatıon-individuation characteristics in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. EJM. 2025 Mar. 1;64(1):32-9. doi:10.19161/etd.1485103

Ege Journal of Medicine enables the sharing of articles according to the Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license.