Associations of positive childhood experiences with binge-eating disorder characteristics and intuitive eating among college students

Adverse and benevolent childhood experiences moderate the association between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are a robust risk factor for SI. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can increase the risk for SI in the context of PTSD symptoms. Social support has been shown to buffer the impact of ACEs on SI. The current study aimed to examine the interaction between benevolent childhood experiences (BCEs), ACEs, and PTSD symptoms on SI. We administered a questionnaire to 837 undergraduate students (MAge = 19.1; 88.3% White; 76.3% women). The three-way interaction between ACEs, BCEs, and PTSD symptoms on SI was significant, F(9,721) = 49.89, p < .001, and accounted for 38.38% of the variance in SI. The results of our study suggest that BCEs would weaken the relationship between PTSD symptoms and SI, regardless of ACE-level. These findings may inform future suicide research, prevention, and intervention efforts.

Assessment of Intuitive Eating and Mindful Eating among Higher Education Students: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The role of mindful eating (ME) and intuitive eating (IE) in improving eating behavior, diet quality, and health is an area of increasing interest.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review was to identify the instruments used to assess ME and IE among higher education students and outcomes related to these dimensions.

METHODS

This review was carried out according to the PRISMA statement, through systematic searches in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria selected for higher education students, levels of ME and/or IE reported, and observational and clinical studies. The exclusion criteria selected against reviews, qualitative studies, and case studies. Quality was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Quality Criteria Checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 516 initial records were identified, from which 75 were included. Cross-sectional studies were the most common research design (86.7%). Most studies were conducted with samples that were predominantly female (90.7%), White (76.0%), aged 18 to 22 years (88.4%), with BMI < 25 kg/m2 (83.0%), and in the United States (61.3%). The Intuitive Eating Scale (IES), the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), and their different versions were the most used instruments. The outcomes most studies included were eating behavior and disorders (77.3%), anthropometric assessments (47.8%), mental health (42.0%), and body image (40.6%). Regarding the quality of studies, 34.7% of studies were assigned a positive, 1.3% a negative, and 64.0% a neutral rate.

CONCLUSIONS

IES and MEQ were the most used instruments. RCT and cohort studies are scarce, and future research with a higher level of quality is needed, especially on the topics of food consumption, diet quality, and biochemical markers.