The lack of motivation to recover from eating disorders (ED) poses a big problem in light of literature showing the critical role motivation plays in the outcome of ED treatment. Literature exploring the factors contributing to motivation to recover is scarce. The current study aims at exploring the associations between aspects of object relations and quality of relationships with parents to the motivation for recovery in light of research suggesting an influence of these variables in the development of ED. 79 females, visitors of either “pro-anorexia” websites (in which ED are glorified as an alternative life style rather than being acknowledged as mental disorders) or “prorecovery” websites, completed a set of questionnaires online including Eat-26, Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire, Quality of Relationship Inventory regarding parents and blatt’s Object Relations Inventory. Results show that while the score on EAT-26 was related to both mother and father variables, only the quality of relationship with the father is a significant variable in predicting motivation to recover from ED. Implications for treatment and further research are discussed.
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