Understanding the relationship between interpersonal trauma and disordered eating: An extension of the model of psychological adaptation.

Abstract

Interpersonal trauma is a nonspecific risk factor for disordered eating (DE). Studies have begun to examine mechanisms that explain the relationship; however, few have tested comprehensive theoretical models. The Model of Psychological Adaptation (McCann, Sakheim, & Abrahamson, 1988) posits that trauma exposure results in core schema disruptions that are associated with varying psychological response patterns, or psychological adaptations, that are also established predictors of DE, such as interpersonal and affective problems. The model has been successfully applied to symptoms of other psychological disorders, such as PTSD and depression, but has not previously been extended to predict DE. The current study addressed this gap in the literature by assessing an extension of the Model of Psychological Adaptation to DE. A sample of 371 undergraduate women completed an online survey. Using structural equation modeling, the results of the current study demonstrated positive fit for a model that represents the extension of the Model of Psychological Adaptation to DE. These findings corroborate the link between interpersonal trauma and DE, thus demonstrating the potential importance of assessing for DE symptoms among clients who have survived interpersonal trauma and attending to trauma history among clients who have DE. In addition, it highlights mechanisms that may be relevant to the conceptualization and treatment of DE among survivors of interpersonal trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).