The influence of reported trauma and adverse events on eating disturbance in young adults.
OBJECTIVE
Early experiences of trauma or adverse events may be associated with eating disturbance later in life, but evidence is scarce. This study examined whether reported history of adverse life events predicted eating disturbance upon college entry and prospective changes over the first semester of college.


METHODS
First semester college students (n = 249) reported trauma/adverse event histories and completed disordered eating questions (with two factors, restriction and binging/purging) at the beginning and end of their first semester.


RESULTS
At college entry, trauma type, frequency, and overall trauma severity were related to restricted eating, and trauma type and severity was related to binging/purging. Prospective increases in reported restricted eating were predicted by trauma type. Prospective increases in binging/purging were associated with trauma type and total trauma severity.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that reports of past trauma and adverse events cross-sectionally predict reported disordered eating at college entry as well as prospective increases in disordered eating over the first semester of college. Research and clinical implications for these findings are discussed.
Smyth
Joshua M
JM
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-2340, USA. jmsmyth@syr.edu
Heron
Kristin E
KE
Wonderlich
Stephen A
SA
Crosby
Ross D
RD
Thompson
Kevin M
KM
D000328:Adult; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities