Childhood Trauma and Binge Eating in Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Bellehumeur-Béchamp Lily, Legendre Maxime, Bégin Catherine
Primary Institution: Laval University
Hypothesis
The study hypothesizes that childhood maltreatment and bullying will have a significant positive effect on binge eating, with personality traits and maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation mediating these relationships.
Conclusion
The study found that childhood maltreatment is directly associated with binge eating in adults, and that personality traits and maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation play significant mediating roles.
Supporting Evidence
- Childhood maltreatment is directly associated with binge eating in adulthood.
- Self-directedness was identified as a significant contributor in both mediation models.
- Maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation partially explains the relationship between maltreatment and binge eating.
Takeaway
This study shows that bad experiences in childhood can lead to binge eating when people grow up, and how they handle their feelings and their personality can make a difference.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study involved 148 adults with obesity who completed self-report questionnaires assessing maltreatment, bullying, binge eating, maladaptive cognitive-emotional regulation, and personality traits.
Potential Biases
The cross-sectional design prevents establishing causal relationships, and the overrepresentation of women may skew findings.
Limitations
The sample was predominantly female and lacked diversity in education, ethnicity, and socio-economic status, limiting generalizability.
Participant Demographics
The sample consisted of 28 men and 118 women, predominantly White, aged 21 to 72, with 58.9% holding a university degree.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ 0.005
Confidence Interval
[0.04, 0.16]
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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