Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Eating disorders and weight problems across the life span have been linked to adverse childhood experiences. Previous research often focused on child abuse and omitted investigating effects of child neglect. The present study evaluates effects of neglect on bodyweight across the life span and how emotional neglect and bodyweight are linked via mental distress.
We conducted logistic regression analyses on bodyweight extremes and a moderated mediation analysis. In men, physical neglect aggravated the risk to be underweight. In women, emotional neglect was linked to severe obesity. In both sexes, emotional neglect was related to mental distress.
We found an indirect effect of emotional neglect on bodyweight via mental distress, however, it was only present in women. Our results attest to long-term consequences of adverse early experiences. In general, investigations of eating and weight disorders should also include men and employ sex-specific methods of analyses.
Lastly, neglect should also receive more attention to prevent suffering and negative sequelae over the life span. Since the first landmark study investigating adverse effects of child maltreatment by Felitti, et al. Childhood trauma represents a major health issue in the US and around the world e.
A recent representative survey of the German population using the established taxonomy of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire CTQ 5 which differentiates emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and physical and emotional neglect, found that almost a third of participants had suffered at least one type of child maltreatment 6.
