Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
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Eating problems and emotional eating in childhood are associated with eating disorders in adolescence. Eating problems and emotional eating can develop due to problems with mood and stress...Show moreEating problems and emotional eating in childhood are associated with eating disorders in adolescence. Eating problems and emotional eating can develop due to problems with mood and stress regulation or appetite regulation. External factors, such as maternal caregiving, can also play a role. Mood, stress and appetite regulation are regulated by the brain but also by the gut. In recent research, the gut has been linked to depression and anxiety, but more research is needed on its role in eating disorders and their precursors. In this study, we explored the link between two precursors of eating disorders, eating problems and emotional eating, and the gut microbiota as well as the moderating role of maternal caregiving. We analysed longitudinal data from the BIBO (Basale Invloeden op de Baby Ontwikkeling) study of Nijmegen university. The data was used to look at whether clusters of bacteria in infancy predict eating problems at 2.5 and 6 years old and emotional eating at 6 and 14 years old. Furthermore, maternal caregiving was added as a moderator to see its role in the potential relationship between the gut and eating problems and emotional eating. Results revealed that there were no significant differences in eating problems (at 2.5 and 6 years old) and emotional eating (at 6 and 14 years old) between the clusters. Furthermore, there was no moderating effect of maternal caregiving on the relationship between microbiota cluster and eating problems and emotional eating. This study suggests that infant microbiota does not predict eating problems and emotional eating in childhood and adolescence in this sample. However, these findings open new paths for future research; with higher taxonomic resolution rather than clusters of bacteria, larger sample sizes, and finally the addition of measures of relevant variables, such as emotion regulation strategies and measures of parent-child relations, such as attachment and parental feeding practices.Show less
