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Childhood adversity and empathy in eating disorders: Exploring transdiagnostic profiles and socio-emotional functioning

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including abuse and neglect, have been associated with difficulties in developing empathy. People with eating disorders (EDs) often report higher rates of ACE and display empathy-related impairments, which may contribute to maladaptive interpersonal functioning. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the associations between childhood adversities and empathy-related outcomes in individuals with ED compared to a general population sample (GP). PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants included 210 people with EDs (94 anorexia nervosa restrictive, 34 binge-purge anorexia nervosa, 36 bulimia nervosa, 36 binge-eating disorder, 24 OSFED) from national ED clinics and 151 participants from the GP. METHODS: Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ). Multivariate analyzes evaluated group differences and associations between specific forms of childhood adversity and subdomains of EQ: cognitive empathy (CE), emotional reactivity (ER) and social skills (SS). RESULTS: = 31.81, p < 0.001). Emotional abuse and neglect were associated with a lower ER and SS, and physical neglect was associated with a reduction in CE and ER. No significant effects for physical or sexual abuse. Group membership alone was not associated with empathy outcomes. Cluster analysis identified two profiles: one with high trauma exposure and lower empathy, and another with lower trauma and more preserved socio-emotional functioning. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight the specific impact of emotional forms of childhood adversity on empathy in EDs and support trauma-informed, individualized interventions based on socio-emotional profiles.

Source: Child Abuse & Neglect

DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2025.107445