Childhood maltreatment, depressive symptoms, and body dissatisfaction in patients with binge eating disorder: the mediating role of self-criticism.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the mediating role of self-criticism in the relation between childhood maltreatment and both depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction in patients with binge eating disorder (BED).


METHODS
Participants were 170 BED patients who completed measures of childhood maltreatment, self-criticism, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and body dissatisfaction.


RESULTS
Specific forms of childhood maltreatment (emotional abuse, sexual abuse) were significantly associated with body dissatisfaction. Path analyses demonstrated that self-criticism fully mediated the relation between emotional abuse and both depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction. Specificity for the mediating role of self-criticism was demonstrated in comparison to other potential mediators (low self-esteem) and alternative competing mediation models.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight self-criticism as a potential mechanism through which certain forms of childhood maltreatment may be associated with depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction in BED patients.
Dunkley
David M
DM
Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Community and Family Psychiatry, S.M.B.D. Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T1E4. david.dunkley@mail.mcgill.ca
Masheb
Robin M
RM
Grilo
Carlos M
CM
D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D012649:Self Concept; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology