Showcase of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (SOURCE)

Relationship Between the Development of Eating Disorders and Childhood Trauma in Family Dynamics

Decades of research suggest there is a relationship between early trauma and subsequent eating disorders. This paper will serve as a systematic research review to examine the impact of trauma in family relationships on the development of eating disorders later in life. This research review will consist of past relevant research of eating disorders and their connection to family trauma. Eating disorders are serious and sometimes fatal mental disorders in which a person may experience disturbing eating behaviors. As such, a person with an eating disorder may also experience disturbances in thought processes, emotions, and body image. This research review will focus on if and how childhood trauma, specifically when the trauma stems from one’s relationship to one’s parents or parental figures, will play a role in the development of an eating disorder. Understanding the complex relationship between experiencing trauma and developing eating disorders is an important step in supporting those struggling with an eating disorder to develop effective coping mechanisms and confronting the underlying trauma. This literature review will examine not only the relationship between eating disorders and family trauma but the efficacy of possible cognitive and behavioral interventions that are best suited for these circumstances