Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30845244›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2019

Mediators linking insecure attachment to eating symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Laura Cortés-García, Bahi Takkouche, Gloria Seoane, Carmen Senra

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Linking Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression to Mindfulness: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. The role of attachment style in unhealthy music use.Musicae scientiae : the journal of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music · 2026
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  7. The current clinical approach to feeding and eating disorders aimed to increase personalization of management.World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Laura Cortés-GarcíaDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-7176-1171
Bahi TakkoucheDepartment of Preventive Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
Gloria SeoaneDepartment of Social Psychology, Basic and Methodology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
Carmen SenraDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In the last two decades, the number of studies focused on the mediators connecting insecure attachment with Eating Disorders (EDs), at both clinical and sub-clinical level, has considerably increased. However, there has not been a systematic synthesis of this literature to date. To fill this gap, the current meta-analytic review aimed at identifying and quantifying the extent to which mediators contribute to the explanation of this relationship. The present study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017076807). A comprehensive search process in seven different electronic databases retrieved 24 studies that examined how insecure attachment leads to ED symptoms through mediation analysis. Standardized regression coefficients of the indirect and total paths of 21 mediation models were pooled. Studies were coded and ranked for quality. We found evidence to show that maladaptive emotion regulation and depressive symptoms had the highest effect size for mediation (mediation ratio [PM] = 0.71). Further, body dissatisfaction, neuroticism, perfectionism, mindfulness and social comparison had significant, but moderate to low mediating effects (PM = 0.21-0.58). The methodological quality of these studies was mostly low to moderate and potential areas for development were highlighted. Our findings support the direct targeting of these psychological constructs in prevention programs and treatment of EDs. Future investigations addressing the time sequence between the variables will provide valuable clues to untangle the prospective contribution of each variable on the development and maintenance of eating pathology.

Indexed as

Databases, FactualDepressive DisorderEmotionsFeeding and Eating DisordersHumansNeuroticismSociological Factors

Identifiers

PMID30845244
PMCPMC6405186

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.