Nutrition/Obesity
Perpetrators of sexual and physical abuse: Associations with disordered eating behaviors, intuitive eating, and orthorexic eating behaviors among college students Cynthia Yoon* Cynthia Yoon Craig
Background: During college, disordered and orthorexic eating behaviors peak, while intuitive eating becomes a challenge. Although abuse is related to disordered eating, the role of perpetrators on eating behaviors remain underexplored.
Purpose: To examine the associations of perpetrators of abuse and polyvictimization with disordered, intuitive, and orthorexic eating behaviors among college students.
Methods: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study of college students (N=1,621 in 2022-2023). History of abuse, disordered eating (e.g., binge eating), intuitive eating (e.g., reliance on hunger and satiety cues), and orthorexic eating (e.g., obsessive focus on healthy eating) were self-reported. Modified Poisson regressions examined associations of perpetrators/polyvictimization with disordered/orthorexic eating adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and BMI; linear regressions examined associations between perpetrators/polyvictimization and intuitive eating.
Results: An adult family member as the perpetrator was associated with greater prevalence of disordered eating (PR=1.22-1.38), lower intuitive eating scores (β=-4.02, 95% CI=-6.88, -1.16), and greater orthorexic eating (PR=1.19, 95% CI=0.93-1.52). Similar patterns were observed with intimate partner as the perpetrator. Sibling as the perpetrator showed limited associations with disordered eating and no associations with intuitive or orthorexic eating. Polyvictimization were cumulatively associated with disordered eating, intuitive eating, and orthorexic eating, after adjustments.
Conclusion: Adult family members and intimate partners exert a stronger influence on college students’ eating behaviors than siblings. Additionally, cumulative adverse experiences, regardless of perpetrator identity are associated with disordered and intuitive eating. Public health efforts should address the role of perpetrators and the cumulative effects of adverse experiences on college students’ eating behaviors.