Risk and protective factors of probable binge eating disorder in US military spouses: findings from the Millennium Cohort Family Study.

Abstract

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a public health concern that has received little research attention in military families. More research is needed to identify risk and protective factors to inform intervention and prevention efforts. This longitudinal study examined predictors of probable BED in a sample of US military spouses (n = 5269). Data were derived from the Millennium Cohort Family Study, which included baseline assessments of risk and protective factors and a follow-up assessment of probable BED approximately 3 years later. Results of a multivariable logistic regression model indicated that spouses with probable posttraumatic stress disorder, adverse childhood experiences, or who were former smokers had increased risk of probable BED at follow-up. Spouses of service members who had a deployment with combat exposure and spouses of those who had not deployed had higher risk of probable BED than spouses whose service member deployed without combat exposure. Age > 34 years was the only protective factor to emerge as significant in the adjusted model. Results highlight the need for interventions to improve psychoeducation and coping skills of military spouses, which may mitigate BED symptoms stemming from military-related stressors (eg, combat deployment) or prior trauma, especially once maladaptive coping mechanisms (eg, smoking) have ceased.