Psychological predictors of food addiction: The role of adverse childhood experiences and subjective psychopathological symptoms

Background: The concept of food addiction (FA) represents a significant shift in our understanding of the etiology of obesity and has the potential to optimize and streamline its management. The multifactorial etiology of FA requires a deeper investigation into various psychological correlates beyond genetic predispositions and the obesogenic environment. Aim: The study aimed to identify psychological predictors of FA and investigate the relationships between FA and psychopathological symptoms in the context of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Materials and Methods: A correlational, quantitative, non-experimental design was employed. A self-report assessment battery included the Yale Food Addiction Scale, the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire, and the Symptom Checklist-90. The research sample consisted of 188 participants. Results: We identified psychoticism, depression, and ACEs as significant predictors of FA. Psychoticism and depression explained 24% of the variance of FA, while ACEs explained 10% of this variance. ACEs significantly mediated the relationship between psychopathological symptom prevalence and FA. Conclusions: By investigating the psychological correlates of FA, this study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how different risk factors may contribute to specific eating behaviors. These insights can inform the development of more effective personalized therapeutic interventions.