The investigation of the mediating roles of self-compassion and emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between eating behaviors and attachment styles

This thesis study aims to investigate the mediating roles of emotion regulation difficulties and self-compassion in the relationship between attachment styles and disordered eating behaviors. The findings from this study are expected to provide a new perspective on understanding the relationship between disordered eating behaviors and attachment styles, thus making a significant contribution to the limited literature. This study included a total of 250 participants, consisting of 125 women and 125 men, aged between 18 and 74. Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire were used in the study. The findings of the study indicate that preoccupied and fearful attachment styles predict emotional eating and this relationship is mediated by emotion regulation difficulties and self-compassion. Accordingly, high emotion regulation difficulties and low self-compassion play a statistically significant mediating role in emotional eating associated with preoccupied and fearful attachment styles. The results highlight the need to consider multiple factors in research on disordered eating behaviors and in the development of treatment programs. Keywords: Attachment, Eating behavior, Emotion regulation difficulties, Self-compassion