Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42351246›Full record

ArticleJournal of eating disorders2026

Psychological and clinical associations of adverse childhood experiences in Chinese patients with eating disorders.

Xiao Zhang, Chao Chen, Xueni Li, Qingmei Kong, Peihua Song, Darong Zhang, Tianmei Si

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of eating disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Xiao Zhang *NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
Chao Chen *NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
Xueni LiNHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China. lixueni@bjmu.edu.cn.
Qingmei KongNHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China. qingmeikong@163.com.
Peihua SongNHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
Darong ZhangNHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
Tianmei SiNHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Peking University Sixth Hospital, Peking University Institute of Mental Health, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), 51 Huayuanbei Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China. si.tian-mei@163.com.

Funding

Beijing Research Ward Excellence Program BRWEP2024W074110107Beijing Research Ward Excellence Program BRWEP2024W074110113Being High-Level innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Support Program G202532215National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital) NCRC2020M04National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital) PY21007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEating disorders (EDs) are severe mental illnesses with significant morbidity and mortality. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are recognized risk factors, but their specific impact across ED subtypes and the mediating psychological mechanisms require further elucidation.

methodsIn this cross-sectional study (2008-2015), 970 outpatients with eating disorders (919 female) were assessed for adverse childhood experiences and clinical behaviors with the Eating Disorder Questionnaire, and for psychological traits with the Eating Disorder Inventory-1. This study used factorial ANOVA, Lasso regression, and mediation analysis to clarify the effects of ACEs and diagnostic subtypes, identify specific influencing factors, and explore the mediating role of psychological traits.

resultsACEs were nominally associated with most clinical behaviors except dieting; after correction, the most robust associations were observed for binge eating, laxative use, and several onset-age variables. Childhood emotional abuse most profoundly impacted psychological traits. The cumulative number of ACEs was associated with increased severity of psychological traits and a higher likelihood of clinical behaviors. Mediation analyses revealed that psychological traits significantly mediated the relationship between ACEs and clinical behaviors. For instance, ineffectiveness mediated the link from cumulative ACE count (mediation proportion = 0.481), "criticism and blame" (mediation proportion = 0.629), and "abandonment threats" (mediation proportion = 0.601) to binge eating.

conclusionsChildhood emotional abuse and cumulative ACEs significantly correlated with worsened psychological traits and clinical ED behaviors, with notable implications for binge-eating/purging symptoms. Several psychological traits showed substantial indirect associations between ACE exposure and clinical ED behaviors. These findings highlight the necessity of routine ACE assessment and trauma-informed interventions targeting these psychological vulnerabilities in ED treatment.

Indexed as

Adverse childhood experiencesCumulative effectEating disordersEmotional abusePsychological mediation

Identifiers

PMID42351246
PMCPMC13560438

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.