The Predictive Role of Emotion Regulation in the Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Emotional Eating
Emotion Regulation, Childhood Trauma, and Emotional Eating
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63175/tjts.65Keywords:
Childhood Trauma, Childhood Maltreatment, Emotion Regulation, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Emotional Eating, Disordered Eating, Mediation AnalysisAbstract
Background: We aimed to investigate whether emotional regulation mediated potential psychological processes linking emotional eating and different types of childhood maltreatment subtypes.
Methods: A total of 250 individuals aged between 16 and 68 were included in the study between October 1, 2023, and November 1, 2023. A personal data form prepared by the researchers, along with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-36), and the Emotional Eating Scale were obtained from the individuals.
Results: A strong positive correlation was found between Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Emotional Eating. A strong positive correlation was found between Childhood Maltreatment Experiences and Emotion Regulation Difficulties. A strong positive correlation was found between Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Emotional Eating. Childhood maltreatment significantly predicted emotional eating. Emotional regulation difficulties significantly predicted emotional eating.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that childhood trauma is particularly associated with disordered eating behaviors. Additionally, it was found that emotion regulation difficulties mediate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and disordered eating behaviors. These results suggest that childhood traumatic experiences and emotion regulation difficulties should be considered in the treatment of disordered eating behaviors.
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