From childhood trauma to elevated C-reactive protein in adulthood: the role of anxiety and emotional eating

Andrew Schrepf; Kristian Markon; Susan K Lutgendorf

doi:10.1097/PSY.0000000000000072

Back

From childhood trauma to elevated C-reactive protein in adulthood: the role of anxiety and emotional eating

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

From childhood trauma to elevated C-reactive protein in adulthood: the role of anxiety and emotional eating

Andrew Schrepf, Kristian Markon and Susan K Lutgendorf

Psychosomatic medicine, Vol.76(5), pp.327-336

06/2014

DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000072

PMCID: PMC5660872

PMID: 24933013

Files and links (1)

url

http://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000072View

Open Access

Abstract

Childhood trauma is known to be related to inflammatory processes in adulthood, but underlying psychological/behavioral mechanisms have not been fully characterized. To investigate associations between childhood trauma and inflammation (indexed by C-reactive protein [CRP]), we used a structural equation modeling approach on a subsample of the Midlife in the United States biomarker project. Participants included 687 men and women without history of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or stroke who completed a physical examination and extensive questionnaires and provided blood. To test for sex differences, we held as many parameters invariant across sexes as possible while still retaining good model fit. Tests of direct and indirect effects revealed that childhood trauma was significantly associated with elevated CRP, via elevated body mass index (BMI; p < .001). This relationship was mediated by a broad latent measure of distress, which was associated with using food as a coping mechanism. Men and women differed in reported levels of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect. Compared with men, women showed a stronger association between BMI and CRP, whereas men had a stronger association between use of food to cope and elevated BMI. Our results are consistent with a model in which childhood trauma is associated with elevated CRP, a relationship associated with stress reactivity and compensatory emotional eating. Men and women may experience trauma in qualitatively distinct patterns but share many vulnerabilities, which can lead to elevated health risks. Emotional eating may be an important target for intervention in this population.

Adaptation, Psychological - physiology

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse - psychology

Age Factors

Humans

Middle Aged

Male

Stress, Psychological - psychology

Sampling Studies

Inflammation - blood

Exercise

Adult

Female

C-Reactive Protein - analysis

Child

Body Mass Index

Inflammation - psychology

Smoking - blood

Stress, Psychological - blood

Anxiety - blood

Anxiety - psychology

Models, Psychological

Inflammation - etiology

Emotions

Feeding Behavior - physiology

Alcohol Drinking - blood

Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology

Child Abuse - psychology

Smoking - epidemiology

Sex Factors

Biomarkers

Aged

Feeding Behavior - psychology

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data

Anxiety - etiology

Stress, Psychological - etiology

Cohort Studies

Details

Title: Subtitle: From childhood trauma to elevated C-reactive protein in adulthood: the role of anxiety and emotional eating
Creators: Andrew Schrepf - From the Departments of Psychology (A.S., K.M., S.K.L.), Obstetrics and Gynecology (S.K.L.), and Urology (S.K.L.) and Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (S.K.L.), University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Kristian Markon
Susan K Lutgendorf
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Psychosomatic medicine, Vol.76(5), pp.327-336
DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000072
PMID: 24933013
PMCID: PMC5660872
NLM abbreviation: Psychosom Med
ISSN: 0033-3174
eISSN: 1534-7796
Publisher: United States
Grant note: P01 AG020166 / NIA NIH HHS R01 CA140933 / NCI NIH HHS CA140933 / NCI NIH HHS R01 CA104825 / NCI NIH HHS P01-AG020166 / NIA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 06/2014
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Urology
Record Identifier: 9984002414802771

Metrics

37 Record Views

34 Times Cited - Web of Science