Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Body Mass Index in Young Adulthood: Mediated by Depression and Anxiety?
Date
2022
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Publisher
Child Maltreatment
Abstract
We examined whether childhood abuse is related to body mass index (BMI) in young adults and whether this relationship is
mediated by depression and anxiety. Data are from the Dutch longitudinal cohort study TRAILS (nfemales = 836, nmales = 719). At
wave 4, childhood sexual, physical and verbal abuse, and lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD) were assessed. BMI was measured at wave 4 and 5 (mean age = 19.2/22.4 years). Sex-stratified structural
equation models were estimated. Females who had experienced sexual abuse had a higher BMI at wave 4 (B = 0.97, 95%CI =
[ 0.01,1.96]) and a higher increase in BMI between wave 4 and 5 (B = 0.52, 95%CI = [0.04,1.01]) than females who had not
experienced sexual abuse. Additionally, MDD and BMI at wave 4 were related in females (B = 1.35, 95%CI = [0.52,2.18]). MDD
mediated the relationship between sexual abuse and BMI at wave 4 in females. In addition, sexual abuse moderated the
relationship between MDD and BMI at wave 4. The relationship was stronger among females who had experienced sexual abuse
than among females who had not. Prevention of BMI changes among females who experienced sexual abuse may thus be
warranted, particularly when they developed MDD. MDD treatment, such as abuse-focused psychotherapy, may aid this
prevention.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
research, child maltreatment, long term effects, health outcomes, obesity, International Resources, Netherlands, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder
Citation
Elsenburg, L. K., Liefbroer, A. C., van Eeden, A. E., Hoek, H. W., Oldehinkel, A. J., & Smidt, N. (2022). Relationship Between Childhood Abuse and Body Mass Index in Young Adulthood: Mediated by Depression and Anxiety?. Child Maltreatment, 10775595221092946.