title: Childhood trauma and eating psychopathology: a mediating role for dissociation and emotion dysregulation?
abstract: The present study examined the relationship between different forms of childhood trauma and eating psychopathology using a multiple mediation model that included emotion dysregulation and dissociation as hypothesised mediators. 142 female undergraduate psychology students studying at two British Universities participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed measures of childhood trauma (emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect), eating psychopathology, dissociation and emotion dysregulation. Multiple mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the study's proposed model. Results revealed that the multiple mediation model significantly predicted eating psychopathology. Additionally, both emotion dysregulation and dissociation were found to be significant mediators between childhood trauma and eating psychopathology. A specific indirect effect was observed between childhood emotional abuse and eating psychopathology through emotion dysregulation. Findings support previous research linking childhood trauma to eating psychopathology. They indicate that multiple forms of childhood trauma should be assessed for individuals with eating disorders. The possible maintaining role of emotion regulation processes should also be considered in the treatment of eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: NHS Tayside Psychological Therapies Service & University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.affiliation: School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: NHS Tayside Psychological Therapies Service & University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Vivien
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Dundee & NHS Tayside Psychological Therapies Service, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: Kenny
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011599:Psychopathology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abuse; Dissociation; Eating psychopathology; Emotion regulation; Trauma