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Violence from parents in childhood and obesity in adulthood: Using food in response to stress as a mediator of risk

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  • Greenfield, Emily A.
  • Marks, Nadine F.

Abstract

Guided by a life course perspective and concepts from models of stress and coping, this study tested the extent to which self-reported profiles of physical and psychological violence in childhood from parents were associated with greater odds of obesity in adulthood. This study also examined the extent to which adults' greater use of food in response to stress served as a mediator of potential associations of risk. Multivariate regression models were estimated using data from 1650 respondents in the 1995-2005 National Survey of Midlife in the U.S. (MIDUS). Results indicated that respondents who reported having experienced both psychological and physical violence from parents--with at least one type of violence having reportedly occurred frequently--were more likely to be classified as obese in contrast to respondents who reported never having experienced either type of violence from parents. Evidence from a sequence of models that tested mediation effects indicated that greater use of food in response to stress among respondents with problematic histories of violence explained, in part, their higher risk of adult obesity. Findings contribute to the growing body of evidence regarding psychosocial predictors of obesity, as well as the physical health consequences of childhood family violence. Results further suggest the importance of addressing particular aspects of life course social relationships--such as violence in childhood from parents--and their implications for psycho-behavioral uses of food within efforts to reduce rates of adult obesity.

Suggested Citation

  • Greenfield, Emily A. & Marks, Nadine F., 2009. "Violence from parents in childhood and obesity in adulthood: Using food in response to stress as a mediator of risk," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 791-798, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:68:y:2009:i:5:p:791-798
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenneth F. Ferraro & Roland J. Thorpe & Jody A. Wilkinson, 2003. "The Life Course of Severe Obesity: Does Childhood Overweight Matter?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(2), pages 110-119.
    2. Christopher Winship & Larry Radbill, 1994. "Sampling Weights and Regression Analysis," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 23(2), pages 230-257, November.
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    2. Park, Aely & Kim, Youngmi, 2018. "The longitudinal influence of child maltreatment on child obesity in South Korea: The mediating effects of low self-esteem and depressive symptoms," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 34-40.
    3. Kovacic, Matija & Orso, Cristina Elisa, 2022. "Trends in inequality of opportunity in health over the life cycle: The role of early-life conditions," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 60-82.
    4. Shun-ichiro Asahara & Hiroshi Miura & Wataru Ogawa & Yoshikazu Tamori, 2020. "Sex difference in the association of obesity with personal or social background among urban residents in Japan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, November.
    5. Xiangming Fang & Xiaodong Zheng & Deborah A. Fry & Gary Ganz & Tabitha Casey & Celia Hsiao & Catherine L. Ward, 2017. "The Economic Burden of Violence against Children in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, November.
    6. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Asante, Augustine, 2023. "Neighbourhood crime and obesity: Longitudinal evidence from Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
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    8. Lee, Chioun & Tsenkova, Vera & Carr, Deborah, 2014. "Childhood trauma and metabolic syndrome in men and women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 122-130.
    9. Morton, Patricia M. & Mustillo, Sarah A. & Ferraro, Kenneth F., 2014. "Does childhood misfortune raise the risk of acute myocardial infarction in adulthood?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 133-141.

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