Positive Childhood Experiences May Protect Against Disordered Eating During College
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20, 2025 -- Benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs) have a protective effect against disordered eating behaviors, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in Adversity and Resilience Science.
Cynthia Y. Yoon, from Pusan National University in Busan, South Korea, and Craig A. Johnston, Ph.D., from the University of Houston, conducted a cross-sectional study to examine how childhood experiences are related to disordered eating behaviors among college students. The analysis included data from 1,634 college students.
The researchers found that the predicted probability of disordered eating behaviors was highest among those with a high rate of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a low rate of BCEs (predicted probability, 38.5 to 64.2 percent) when adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Those with a low rate of ACEs and high rate of BCEs had the lowest predicted probability (22.1 to 47.4 percent). Compared with students with a high rate of ACEs and low rate of BCEs, those with a low rate of ACEs and high rate of BCEs had 0.59 to 0.75 times the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors.
"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," Yoon said in a statement.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
Poor Mental Health Outcomes More Likely With Hyperemesis Gravidarum
FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2025 -- Hyperemesis gravidarum is associated with an increased risk for poorer mental health outcomes compared with pregnancy without hyperemesis gravidarum...
Young Adult Cancer Survivors Face Higher Social Risks
FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2025 -- Young adult cancer survivors face elevated social risks, according to a study presented at the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health...
Behavioral Health Integration Can Improve Psychosocial Health of Children
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2025 -- For children at federally qualified health centers implementing behavioral health integration, encounters with a behavioral health clinician (BHC) and...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.