Parental autonomy-support and psychological control in eating disorder patients with and without binge-eating/purging behaviour and non-suicidal self-injury

© 2017 Guilford Publications, Inc. The current study examines whether autonomy-supportive and controlling parenting are related to the presence/absence of binge-eating/purging behavior and/ or non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with an eating disorder (ED). Fifty-three ED patients completed validated questionnaires assessing perceived maternal and paternal autonomy-supportive and psychologically controlling parenting. A total of 53 mothers and 37 fathers also completed these questionnaires. All patients completed the Self-Injury Questionnaire-Treatment Related to assess non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Results showed that patients with binge-eating purging behaviors experienced more maternal psychological control compared to restrictive patients independently of the presence of NSSI. Paternal psychological control or autonomy support did not differ as a function of ED subtype and presence/ absence of NSSI. These results suggest that especially mothers of patients engaging in binge-eating/purging behaviors could benefit from family interventions that support parents in diminishing the use of psychological control.status: publishe