| Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are defined by an enduring pattern of eating-related behavior that results in impairments in physical and psychosocial wellbeing. Research is finally expanding to examine the prevalence, risk, development and course of these diagnoses in minority populations. Trauma has repeatedly been linked to the presence of eating disorder diagnoses (Goldfarb, 1987; Rorty & Yager, 1996). However, there is a paucity of research linking early childhood maltreatment to eating disorder pathology. The purpose of this dissertation was to 1) examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors among a high-risk sample of pre-adolescent girls; and 2) examine the impact of several hypothesized mediators including borderline personality features, anxiety, and depression on the relationship between childhood maltreatment and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors.;The sample included N=73 pre-adolescent females (ages 9-13) recruited from a high-risk community. Structural equation modeling was used to examine comprehensive theoretically and empirically driven models. Results support the mediating role of borderline personality features as well as trait-level anxiety in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. Childhood maltreatment was associated with higher levels of borderline personality features and trait-level anxiety. These features were in turn associated with higher levels of eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. Implications regarding diagnosis, treatment and intervention are discussed. |
