Adverse childhood experiences and diet quality in the national sample of Poles

The mediating role of emotion regulation

Bibliographic Data

ID11355641
AuthorsMarcin Rzeszutek (0000-0002-4230-3806, University of Warsaw, corresponding author), Joanna Kowalkowska (0000-0003-1981-7320, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn), Katarzyna Drabarek (0000-0002-2691-6928, University of Warsaw), Angelika Van Hoy (University of Warsaw), Katarzyna Schier (University of Warsaw), Maja Lis‐Turlejska (0000-0002-7418-8566, Uniwersytet SWPS), Maja Lis-Turlejska, Małgorzata Dragan (0000-0001-8221-2012, University of Warsaw), Paweł Holas (0000-0002-4210-3396, University of Warsaw), Dominika Maison (0000-0002-8946-7517, University of Warsaw), Gabriela Wdowczyk (University of Warsaw), Elżbieta Litwin (University of Warsaw), Julia Wawrzyniak (University of Warsaw), Wiktoria Znamirowska (University of Warsaw), Szymon Szumiał (0000-0002-2842-4863, University of Warsaw), Małgorzata Desmond (Great Ormond Street Hospital)
Year2025
Volume204
Pages107749
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAppetite (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0195-6663 • E-ISSN: 1095-8304
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.appet.2024.107749
PMID39515472
OpenAlexW4404124168
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited61

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of adverse psychological and physical outcomes and chronic disease in adulthood. The mechanism of this relationship is still unclear. ACEs might exert their negative influence on adult health via both dietary and psychological axes. Our study aimed to examine the relationship between ACEs and diet quality in the national sample of Poles. We also aimed to determine whether difficulty in regulating emotions act as a mediator of this relationship. The national Polish sample of adults (n = 3557) took part in this study. ACEs were assessed via the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire. Data on food consumption frequency over the past year, body weight and height were collected using the self-administered version of the Dietary Habits and Nutrition Beliefs Questionnaire (KomPAN®). Two diet quality scores were evaluated: Pro-Healthy-Diet-Index-10 (pHDI) and Non-Healthy-Diet-Index-14 (nHDI). Emotion regulation (ER) was evaluated via the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Path analysis was used to examine the associations between the variables, firstly formulated by theoretical assumptions expressed by directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). A higher number of ACEs was related to higher difficulties in ER in adults (p < 0.001), which in turn was related to lower pHDI (p < 0.001) and higher nHDI (p = 0.027). Our findings strengthen the rationale for ACEs screening as a potential risk factor for diet-related chronic disease in adulthood. They provide a framework for public health prevention strategies via interventions targeting diet quality and emotional regulation in the setting of multidisciplinary practice

Adverse Childhood Experiences · Developmental psychology · Mental health · Psychiatry · Child Abuse and Trauma · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access