The Moderating Role of Father’s Care on the Onset of Binge Eating Symptoms Among Female Late Adolescents with Insecure Attachment

The present study examined the association between quality of attachment, perception of the father’s bond, and binge eating symptoms in a sample of female late adolescents. In total, 233 female students aged between 18 and 20 years completed measures on binge eating, quality of attachment and parent–child relationship. Data showed that respondents with binge symptoms reported lower scores on secure attachment and father’s care, and higher scores on preoccupied and fearful attachment. Binge eating symptoms were associated with father’s care, but not with father’s overprotection. Also, binge symptoms were negatively associated with secure attachment styles, and positively with preoccupied and fearful attachment. The data, finally, provided evidence that at higher levels of preoccupied attachment, the impact of binge symptoms tended to be lower when father’s care was high.