The role of thought suppression and negative urgency in eating disorder symptoms and alcohol-related problems among survivors of childhood maltreatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective The current cross-sectional study examined the mediating role of thought suppression and negative urgency in the associations between childhood maltreatment, eating disorder symptoms, and alcohol-related problems in a sample of college students (N = 603). Method A path model was tested to examine the direct and indirect effects from maltreatment to eating disorder symptoms and alcohol-related problems via thought suppression and negative urgency over and above sex and negative affect. Results Childhood maltreatment was directly associated with thought suppression (β = 0.09, SE = 0.04, p < 0.05), negative urgency (β = 0.13, SE = 0.04, p < 0.01), and eating disorder symptoms (β = 0.14, SE = 0.05, p < 0.01). The effect of childhood maltreatment on alcohol-related problems was indirect via negative urgency (β = 0.018, CI 95% [0.005, 0.039]). Contrary to hypotheses, the indirect effect of maltreatment on eating disorder symptoms via thought suppression and negative urgency was not significant. Conclusions The present study identified different pathways from childhood maltreatment to alcohol problems and sheds light on the effects of thought suppression on negative urgency. Although these emotion regulation strategies are often studied in their standalone form, findings suggest that these regulatory mechanisms may co-occur and offer avenues for prevention.