Association between Maltreatments in Childhood or Adolescence and Eating Disorder: A Review

Ruyi Qi

doi:10.54097/ehss.v22i.12414

Authors

Ruyi Qi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/ehss.v22i.12414

Keywords:

Eating Disorders, sexual abuse, cyberbullying, intervention strategies.

Abstract

Eating disorders is a hot research topic that generates a lot of attention in the research field. Various research has been done in order to discover the etiology of eating disorders. This paper aims to focus on the developmental factors, childhood and adolescence maltreatments specifically, that cause eating disorders. Two different maltreatments are involved in this paper, which are sexual abuse and cyberbullying. After revising previous studies, the close association between childhood and adolescence maltreatments has been proved. Other external factors that might affect study results have also been taken into account, such as one’s sexuality, gender, age and family. For example, study have proven that bisexual and homosexual males with sexual abuse experience are more vulnerable to eating disorders. Several intervention strategies, such as EMD and how to properly use the internet and social media, are also being introduced and discussed in this paper.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Eating Disorders. Www.nimh.nih.gov. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders

Guarda, A. (2023, February). What Are Eating Disorders? Psychiatry.org; American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders

Rikani, A. A., Choudhry, Z., Maqsood Choudhry, A., Ikram, H., Waheed Asghar, M., Kajal, D., Waheed, A., & Jahan Mobassarah, N. (2013). A critique of the literature on etiology of eating disorders. Annals of Neurosciences, 20(4). https://doi.org/10.5214/ans.0972.7531.200409

NHS. (2022). Spotting signs of child sexual abuse. Nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/spotting-signs-of-child-sexual-abuse/

Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H. A., & Hamby, S. L. (2014). The Lifetime Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Assault Assessed in Late Adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(3), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.12.026

Feldman, M. B., & Meyer, I. H. (2007). Childhood abuse and eating disorders in gay and bisexual men. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 40(5), 418–423. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20378

Wonderlich, S. A., Brewerton, T. D., Jocic, Z., Dansk, B. S., & Abbott, D. W. (1997). Relationship of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Eating Disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(8), 1107–1115. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199708000-00018

Susan Cowden. (2019). Eating Disorders and Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Abuse. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-influence-of-abuse-trauma-on-disordered-eating-1138267

Marco, J. H., & Tormo-Irun, M. P. (2018). Cyber Victimization Is Associated With Eating Disorder Psychopathology in Adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00987

Hudson, J. I., Chase, E. A., & Pope, H. G. (1998). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in eating disorders: Caution against premature acceptance. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 23(1), 1–5.

Thompson, J. K., & Heinberg, L. J. (1999). The Media’s Influence on Body Image Disturbance and Eating Disorders: We’ve Reviled Them, Now Can We Rehabilitate Them? Journal of Social Issues, 55(2), 339–353. https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00119

Goldfield, G. (2023, February 23). Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults. Apa.org. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/02/social-media-body-image

Hudson, J. I., Chase, E. A., & Pope, H. G. (1998). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in eating disorders: Caution against premature acceptance. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 23(1), 1–5.