Associations between adverse childhood experiences and eating disorder psychopathology and intuitive eating in Chinese adult men and women: Variable-centered and person-centered approaches.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common risk factors for a range of maladaptive physical and psychological health outcomes, including eating disorder (ED) psychopathology. However, most research to date has focused on traditional, thinness-oriented ED psychopathology in Western samples, with limited evidence regarding the potential links between ACEs and other diverse eating-related outcomes, particularly in non-Western contexts (e.g., China). This study examined associations between ACEs and a range of eating-related outcomes, including thinness- and muscularity-oriented ED psychopathology, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms, food addiction symptoms, and intuitive eating, among Chinese adult men and women. Using both variable-centered and person-centered approaches, links of various ACE subtypes and eating-related outcomes were examined by gender in a sample of 800 Chinese adults (400 men and 400 women). Regression analyses (variable-centered) revealed that specific ACE subtypes (e.g., emotional neglect) were uniquely associated with higher ED psychopathology and lower intuitive eating. Latent class analysis (person-centered) identified four ACE patterns in both men and women (i.e., High ACEs, Trauma and Family Disruption, Abusive Environment, and Low ACEs), which differed significantly across various eating-related outcomes. Notably, individuals in the High ACEs class consistently exhibited the highest levels of ED psychopathology and the lowest levels of intuitive eating. Findings from both variable-centered and person-centered approaches suggest the importance of addressing the potential impacts of certain subtypes of ACEs as well as the specific combinations of ACEs in relation to eating behaviors, underscoring potential implications for designing tailored interventions aimed at mitigating the long-term impact of ACEs on eating behaviors.