Attachment and Emotional Eating: A Scoping Review Uncovering Relational Roots to Inform Preventive Healthcare

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Emotional eating can pose a significant threat to one’s health as it can be a predictor of eating disorders. It involves eating in response to emotional distress rather than physical hunger and is widely associated with insecure attachment patterns. However, it remains unclear whether this relationship is consistent across cultures and in the general population. This review aimed to examine the relationship between different conceptualizations of attachment and emotional eating in non-clinical adolescent and adult populations. Methods: Nineteen eligible studies were identified through searches of five databases, including ProQuest, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global (PQDT), which covers peer-reviewed literature published between 1990 and 2025. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included, spanning attachment styles, representations, and states. Results: The findings consistently revealed that general secure attachment styles are associated with lower levels of EE. In comparison, insecure–anxious and disorganized attachment styles are positively associated with higher EE levels. In contrast, avoidant attachment showed a weak or inconsistent association. Mediators such as difficulties with emotion regulation, perceived hunger, and body dissatisfaction were frequently identified, and stress emerged as a relevant moderator. Notably, attachment to specific figures (e.g., romantic partners versus caregivers) and cultural context were poorly addressed, which may influence the strength and consistency of the associations. The review also highlights conceptual gaps in the literature, including a limited focus on early attachment representations, context-specific attachment scripts, and the cultural validity of these concepts. Most studies were cross-sectional and conducted in Western contexts, which limited their causal interpretation and generalizability. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of attachment-based frameworks in understanding and preventing EE. They suggest the necessity to conduct further studies that are more nuanced, longitudinal, culturally diverse, and that consider sex and pubertal changes for a better understanding of the relationship between attachment and EE. This review contributes to prevention efforts and global health strategies by addressing the relational and emotional determinants of unhealthy eating behaviors in the general population.

This publication has 62 references indexed in Scilit: