A Narrative Review of the Co-Occurrence and Interaction of Childhood Emotional Neglect and Overprotection in Developmental Pathways to Disordered Eating
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15715624 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Valentina Lucia La Rosa (0000-0002-6619-6777, University of Catania, corresponding author), Federica Tortorella (University of Catania), Elena Commodari (0000-0002-7647-8743, University of Catania) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 12 |
| Pages | 1643-1643 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Children (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/children12121643 |
| PMID | 41462783 |
| OpenAlex | W4416945488 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 75 |
Childhood emotional neglect and parental overprotection are two subtle yet influential caregiving patterns that shape emotional, relational, and self-regulatory development. Though they are often examined separately, emerging research suggests that they may act independently and together to increase vulnerability to disordered eating. This narrative review synthesizes contemporary theoretical and empirical contributions to clarify how emotional neglect and overprotection affect pathways related to emotion regulation, attachment processes, and self-concept development. The review introduces the concept of complementarity, explaining how these patterns may co-occur within the same family system or fluctuate among individual caregivers. This creates developmental contexts marked by emotional deprivation and restricted autonomy. Based on this synthesis, the manuscript presents an integrative framework that considers distinct and shared mechanisms connecting caregiving experiences to maladaptive eating patterns. Developmental and clinical implications are discussed, emphasizing the importance of assessing relational histories, supporting emotional clarity, and promoting autonomy in intervention planning. The limitations of the narrative approach and directions for future research are outlined, including the need for longitudinal designs, more precise measurement of caregiving dimensions, and a more systematic investigation of the interactive effects of emotional neglect and overprotection
Affect (linguistics · Autonomy · Disordered eating · Intervention (counseling · Narrative · Narrative review · Neglect · Vulnerability (computing · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues · Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Eating disorders
Narrative Reviews
Meeting the review family
Childhood Emotional Abuse and the Attachment System Across the Life Cycle
Exploring adult attachment and anxiety
Childhood traumas and emotional eating
“Be careful, it's dangerous out there”
Research Review
Intergenerational Cycles of Maltreatment
From childhood emotional maltreatment to disordered eating
A developmental model of emotional eating
An Attachment Perspective on Therapeutic Processes and Outcomes
Strengthening Family Bonds
Association of Parent–child Experiences with Insecure Attachment in Adulthood
Internalizing and externalizing correlates of parental overprotection as measured by the Embu
Exploring Parenting Styles Patterns and Children’s Socio-Emotional Skills
Parenting and Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties in a General Population Sample of Adolescents
Emotional Regulation and Interpersonal Effectiveness as Mechanisms of Change for Treatment Outcomes Within a DBT Program for Adolescents
A Systematic Review of Measures of Child Neglect
Measurement Tools of Child Neglect from 2003 to 2023
The role of perceived parental overprotection in women's restrained eating behavior
Childhood maltreatment and disordered eating
When Too Much Help is of No Help
A Parental Bonding Instrument
Psychological Flexibility, Adaptive Emotion Regulation, Self-Compassion, and Autonomy as Mechanisms of Change in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Transitional-Age Youth
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |