The impact of posttraumatic symptomatology on binge eating behaviour and the role of boredom, shame, and guilt

Aim

We aimed to investigate the relationship between trauma and binge eating behaviour focusing on the role of emotional states that may play a mediating role such as boredom, shame, and guilt. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to highlight the role of boredom and shame in the relationship between trauma and binge eating behaviour.

Methods

Through an online platform shared on major social networks, we recruited a snowball convenience sample of 1025 subjects (731 females and 293 males; mean age 29.62 years ± 10.9). Recruited subjects completed a psychometric protocol that included the following measurement tools: (1) the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ),  (2) the Binge Eating Scale (BES), (3)  the Short Form of the State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS-8), (4) the Short Form of the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale (MSBS-SF). Subsequently, acorrelation, a regression analysis, and a mediation model were performed.

Results

The variables were all positively and significantly correlated; it was shown that the severity of Disturbances in Self-Organization (DSO) symptoms was the variable that most correlated with the severity of binge eating behavior symptoms. Multiple linear regression, in which binge eating behavior was the outcome, produced a significant model. Disturbances in self-organization, boredom, and shame were significant predictors, while PTSD symptomatology and guilt were not significant. Mediation analysis, in which boredom, shame, and guilt acted as mediators, revealed a significant direct effect of disturbances in self-organization symptoms on binge eating behavior symptoms, a significant indirect effect, and a significant total effect. Shame and boredom result significant mediators of the relationship between disturbances of self-organization and binge eating behavior.

Conclusion

This study shows that the way a traumatic experience can influence binge eating behavior is related more to the negative effect of traumatic experiences on disturbances of self-organization symptomatology (emotional regulation, self-conception, and relationships) rather than to the symptoms of re-expiring, avoidance, and hyperarousal (PTSD cluster). Difficulties in emotional regulation are related to the emotional states of boredom and shame that could act as triggers for problematic eating behavior.