UH study finds positive childhood experiences protect against disordered eating

What to know: 

• Disordered eating affects nearly 80% of college students, say researchers 

• College eating behaviors stem from both positive and negative childhood experiences 

• Positive childhood experience can protect against disordered eating 
   

HOUSTON, Aug.13 -- A University of Houston researcher is reporting that various childhood experiences, both good and bad, may shape college students’ eating behaviors. The study integrates earlier findings that show adverse childhood experiences negatively affect college students’ eating behaviors, while positive childhood experiences do the opposite. 

Positive behaviors include having supportive relationships, a regular household routine, comforting beliefs and strong community connection. Negative behaviors include experiencing abuse, neglect, illness or divorce. 

During college, as young adults develop their own eating habits, many engage in disordered eating behaviors like overeating, binge eating and unhealthy weight control. These behaviors are surprisingly common—affecting nearly 80% of college students—a rate much higher than in other age groups or stages of life, according to researchers. 

“Previous studies have examined how adverse and positive childhood experiences are related to disordered eating among college students, but very few have explored how these experiences interact and may synergistically affect disordered eating,” said Craig A. Johnston, associate professor and chair, Department of Health and Human Performance at the University of Houston. Johnston’s research examines both and is published in the journal Adversity and Resilience Science. Cynthia Yoon, assistant professor, Pusan National University in South Korea, is the paper’s first author. 

“We found that positive, or benevolent childhood experiences, had a protective effect against disordered eating. Even in the instance where students had a high amount of adverse childhood experiences, positive childhood experiences mitigated their impact in regard to unhealthy eating behaviors,” reports Johnston. “The most dramatic protective effect was observed when individuals had both low adverse childhood experiences and high positive childhood experiences, reducing disordered eating by 20% to 41%.” 

 The data came from a survey of 1,634 University of Houston students. The highest predicted probability of disordered eating behaviors (at 63%) was for excessive concerns about weight and shape among those with reported adverse childhood experiences and low positive experiences. 

 “For clinicians, the findings of this study imply that schools and community-based educational programs should incorporate lessons on healthy coping strategies and resilience-building techniques,” said Johnston.  

 Said Yoon, “Given that childhood experiences, both good and bad, have a strong and lasting impact in eating behaviors, it is important to support families, caregivers, neighbors and teachers in creating a warm, caring and non-hostile environment. This, in turn, may help reduce the chances of students developing disordered eating behaviors during college.” 

 “Additionally, college students who exhibit disordered eating behaviors should be screened for childhood experiences as part of the assessment to determine whether food and eating are used as coping mechanisms or to fulfill unmet childhood emotional needs. Those who screen positive may help clinicians tailor treatment plans to address underlying trauma or lack of warmth, and promote developing resilience, potentially preventing the use of disordered eating behaviors as a coping mechanism,” Johnston said. 

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