Relationships Among Childhood Maltreatment, Limbic System Dysfunction, and Eating Disorders in College Women

Abstract

The mechanisms linking childhood maltreatment and eating pathology are not fully understood. We examined the mediating role of limbic system dysfunction in the relationships between three forms of childhood maltreatment (parental psychological maltreatment, parental physical maltreatment, and parental emotional neglect) and eating disorder symptoms. A convenience sample of college women ( N = 246, M age = 19.62, SD = 2.41) completed measures of maltreatment (Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scales and the Parental Bonding Instrument), limbic system dysfunction (Limbic System Questionnaire), and eating pathology (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire). We hypothesized that there would be an indirect effect of each type of childhood maltreatment on eating disorder symptoms via limbic system irritability. Results generally supported the hypotheses. Examination of the individual paths that defined the indirect effect indicated that higher reported childhood maltreatment was associated with greater limbic irritability symptoms, and higher limbic irritability symptomatology was related to higher total eating disorder scores. There were no significant direct effects for any of the proposed models. Findings are in line with research supporting the role of limbic system dysfunction as a possible pathway in the maltreatment-eating disorder link. Given that limbic system dysfunction may underlie behavioral symptoms of eating disorders, efforts targeting limbic system dysfunction associated with child maltreatment might best be undertaken at an early developmental stage, although interventions for college women struggling with eating disorders are also crucial.

Brain Correlates of Eating Disorders in Response to Food Visual Stimuli: A Systematic Narrative Review of FMRI Studies

“…To this group of traits, Culbert, Racine and Klump [ 14 ] added widespread emotional lability, which determines strong impulsivity or a tendency to behave impulsively, especially as a means of coping with strong negative emotions, but which can also involve marked compulsivity or exaggerated effort to control one’s behavior. These features are traditionally associated with dysregulations at the limbic level [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. A tendency toward avoidance, excessive sensitivity to meeting others’ expectations and receiving rewards, low levels of extraversion and marked self-determination are also significantly elevated in individuals with ED [ 14 , 20 ].…”

Forças que interferem no enfrentamento da violência infantil pela escola

“…Apresentam-se como consequências das violências infantis, distúrbios do sono -sendo esse fator de risco conhecido para futuros problemas de saúde mental e física (April-Sanders, et al, 2020); transtornos alimentares (Mercurio, et al, 2020); comprometimento da saúde física e mental e do bem estar da criança (Ried, et al, 2020). Além disso, aquelas que sofreram atos violentos são 3,5 vezes mais propensas a se tornarem autoras de violências, corroborando reincidência desse agravo à saúde (Kurniawan, et al, 2019).…”

Past-Year Abuse and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among U.S. College Students

“…Studies have consistently documented relationships between EDs and childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse (Afifi et al, 2017; Brewerton, 2007; Caslini et al, 2016; Hazzard et al, 2019; Mercurio et al, 2022; Ziobrowski et al, 2020). Although the mechanisms are not entirely clear, it is postulated that victims of abuse may develop disordered eating as a way of coping with post-traumatic stress symptoms (e.g., intrusive and distressing memories, thoughts, and feelings; Brewerton, 2007; Trottier et al, 2016).…”