Racial trauma with maladaptive eating and related cognitions in Black American college students with a history of trauma exposure.

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined racial trauma in relation to emotional, external, and restrained eating behavior and related cognitions among Black college students, an at-risk population for chronic and severe trauma exposure, including racial trauma, and its clinical sequelae. Participants: 65 Black college students with a history of trauma exposure (90.8% female; M_age = 20.54, SD = 2.49; age range = 18-27) participated. Methods: The current study is a secondary analysis of a larger study and used linear hierarchical regressions to examine the unique impact of racial trauma upon eating behavior and related cognitions. Results: In adjusted models that included age, sex, body mass index, and trauma load, greater levels of racial trauma were positively related to increased emotional and restrained eating. Conclusions: Findings suggest racial trauma may be associated with increased engagement in emotional and restrained eating behavior and related cognitions in Black college students with a trauma history.