Emotion regulation, coping, and attachment in bingeing behaviors

This study examined the mediating role of emotion regulation and coping in the relationship between attachment insecurity and binge drinking and binge eating, using structural equation modeling. To rule out alternative explanations of the results, Big Five personality was investigated in the supplementary analysis. College students (N = 381) completed the web-survey that included questionnaires: (a) Experiences in Close Relationship-Short Form (Wei, Russell, Mallinckrodt, & Vogel, 2007), partner, mother, and father versions; (b) Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004); (c) Brief COPE (Carver, 1997); (d) Drinking Style Questionnaire (Smith, McCarthy, & Goldman, 1995); (e) Binge Eating Scale (Gormally, Black, Daston, & Rardin, 1982); (f) Big Five Inventory (John & Srivastava, 1999), and (g) a demographic form. Higher attachment insecurity was associated with binge eating, which was fully mediated by higher emotion regulation difficulties. Coping did not mediate the link between attachment and binge eating. Attachment, emotion regulation, and coping were not associated with binge drinking. In general, partner attachment predicted binge eating better than parental attachment. However, insecure attachment with mother appeared to predict binge eating for men. Results indicated that individuals with insecure attachment have difficulty regulating emotions, and therefore are more likely to binge eat. Models with Big Five personality in place of insecure attachment did not fit the data adequately. Implications for this study include being able to provide a conceptual framework of integrating the two targets (i.e., interpersonal and emotion regulation problems) of intervention for binge eating by applying attachment theory. Further implications, limitations, and areas for future research are discussed