Negative views of the self are related to disordered eating symptoms among sexual assault survivors

What is it about?

After experiencing trauma, people often struggle with low self-worth and a sense of needing to control their actions to prevent bad things from happening again. These negative thoughts can sometimes lead to unhealthy eating behaviors. This may be especially true for those who have experienced sexual assault, as they might wrongly blame themselves due to harmful societal myths that shift blame onto survivors and excuse perpetrators. The goal of this study was to identify the specific thought patterns that contribute to eating problems, especially in survivors of sexual assault. We found that low self-worth was strongly linked to eating problems for sexual assault survivors, while beliefs about controlling their actions had no connection to eating behaviors. Helping survivors of sexual assault build a more positive self-image could be important in treating eating disorders.

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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Why is it important?

There are currently few treatment options that can address eating problems and trauma-related distress at the same time. Our study suggests that low self-worth is a key issue that should be targeted in treatment. Therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which focus on changing negative thoughts related to trauma, might be helpful for survivors of sexual assault who are struggling with eating disorders.