The Role of Parental Co-Regulation in Enhancing Treatment Outcomes for Children with Eating Disorders

Abstract

Emotional dysregulation has been increasingly identified as a central factor in the development and maintenance of Eating Disorders (EDs) in children and adolescents. Difficulties in identifying, processing, and managing emotional states are consistently linked to ED psychopathology, with maladaptive emotional regulation strategies such as rumination and emotional avoidance exacerbating symptoms (Leppanen et al., 2022). While established treatment models, such as Family-Based Treatment (FBT) and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), emphasize the critical role of parents in managing eating behaviours and emotional distress, their effectiveness can be further enhanced through the concept of co-regulation. Stuart Shanker’s model of co-regulation offers a complementary, relational approach, emphasizing how caregivers can actively support their child’s emotional and physiological regulation through calm, attuned interactions (Shanker, 2016). By integrating co-regulation into family-based interventions, caregivers can transform emotionally charged environments, such as mealtimes, into opportunities for healing, emotional attunement, and nervous system stabilization. This paper explores the role of emotional dysregulation in EDs, examines how co-regulation complements existing family-based therapies, and argues for the integration of parental co-regulation to strengthen family bonds, reduce emotional distress, and foster long-term recovery in children with Eating Disorders.