There is a known association between the core psychopathological features of anorexia nervosa (AN) and sexual dysfunctions, to the point that the recovery of healthy sexuality could be considered a marker of recovery. However, no studies have evaluated the role of insecure attachment in moderating this recovery during treatment.

To evaluate the role of insecure attachment as a possible moderator of the recovery of healthy sexuality in patients with AN treated with Enhanced Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT-E).

A total of 65 patients with anorexia nervosa were treated with CBT-E in a multidisciplinary environment, after filling out self-administered questionnaires for the evaluation of general (SCL-90-R) and ED-specific psychopathology (EDE-Q), female sexuality (FSFI) and adult attachment style (ECR). The assessment was repeated after one (T1) and two years (T2).

At baseline, all domains of sexual dysfunction were significantly predicted by avoidant attachment. A significant amelioration of both general and eating disorder-specific psychopathology and sexual dysfunctions was observed at all follow-up evaluations with respect to baseline levels. However, only 45% of remitted patients also showed a complete recovery of healthy sexuality: this subgroup reported significantly lower avoidance scores when compared to patients who only recovered from AN. Moderation analysis indicated that sexual desire did not increase in participants with higher levels of avoidant attachment.

This study highlighted the crucial role of avoidant attachment in the relationship between AN and sexual dysfunctions, underlining the importance of assessing adult attachment for a better characterization and treatment. Attachment-focused interventions may be beneficial for a full recovery.

No significant relationships.

Attachment styles play important role in managing health behavior. It has been observed in researches that attachment style have relationship with health behavior (Schlack, 2003). If attachment styles are left the way they form habitually it can be harmful, in a study with diabetic patients, people with avoidant attachment style were expected to die within 5 years of disease diagnosis (Ciechanowski et al., 2010).

To assess effect of adult attachment styles on health behavior?

Sample comprised of 300 university students from different private and government universities of Karachi with age range 18 – 35 years. Assessment tools used are relationship questionnaire and wellness behavior inventory scale. Relationship questionnaire is used to identify the dimension of attachment style (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991). Wellness behavior inventory was used to identify consistency of healthy behavior activities done on regularly basis (Sirois, 2001). Statistical tests used for descriptive analysis were frequency and percentage and for inferential statistics regression analysis test was used.

According to the attachment styles A, B, C and D most of the study participants fell in healthy weight range, a few were in obese range which is considered unhealthy. Result of regression analysis estimated there is no effect of attachment style on health behavior as p-value was greater than 0.05.

Attachment style is not a good predictor of health behavior solely. As per a few researches in order to study impact of attachment styles other mediating variables that can have effect on health behavior should also be observed such as self-esteem.