Research Article

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia

Volume: 17 Number: July, August, September 2026 August 4, 2026

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia

Abstract

Purpose: Adverse childhood experiences may negatively affect the health of the individual in later life and increase the risk of developing eating disorders. Eating disorders during pregnancy increase health risks for both the mother and the foetus. This study was conducted to examine the effect of adverse childhood experiences on emotional eating and orthorexia during pregnancy. Methods: The data of the descriptive and correlational study were collected using an online questionnaire distributed via WhatsApp between April and May 2023. The study included 203 pregnant women who applied to a family health center. General Information Form, Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale, ORTO-11 Test and Emotional Eater Questionnaire were used to obtain the data. Results: The mean age of the women who participated in the study was 28.47±5.00 (19-45), the mean gestational week was 24.61±10.11 (8-42), 68% were university graduates, 41.4% were employed in a job, and 74.4% did not receive dietitian support during pregnancy. While the presence of adverse childhood experiences did not affect the orthorexia scores of the pregnant women (p>0.05), it was determined that the emotional eater score increased as the number of adverse childhood experiences increased (p=0.002, r=0.213). In addition, as the emotional eater score increased, the orthorexia score decreased (p<0.001., r=-0.244). Conclusion: All healthcare professionals in contact with pregnant women should assess women holistically, provide basic nutrition education, when necessary, recognize eating disorder symptoms early, and provide guidance when necessary.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

None

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the ethics committee of Marmara University of Health Sciences Faculty (29.12.2022/165).

Thanks

None

References

  1. 1. Felitti VJ, Anda RF, Nordenberg D, Williamson DF, Spitz AM, Edwards V, et al. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults - the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. Am J Prev Med 1998;14, 245 258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
  2. 2. Testa A & Jackson DB. Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences, Paternal Involvement, and Infant Health. The Journal of pediatrics 2021;236, 157–163.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.04.031
  3. 3. Stowe ZN. Perinatal Mental Health: Advances and Opportunities. The American Journal of Psychiatry 2023;180(12):874–877. https:// doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230822
  4. 4. Özdamar Ö, Yılmaz O, Beyca H, Muhcu M. Common Psychiatric Disorders in Pregnancy and Postpartum Period. Zeynep Kamil Tıp Bülteni 2014;45(2):71-77. https://izlik.org/JA39ZB26RD
  5. 5. Mallaram GK, Sharma P, Kattula D, Singh S, Pavuluru P. Body image perception, eating disorder behavior, self-esteem and quality of life: a cross-sectional study among female medical students. Journal of eating disorders 2023;11(1):225. https://doi.org/10.1186/ s40337-023-00945-2
  6. 6. Puşuroğlu M, Hocaoglu C. Pregorexia: Eating Disorder in Pregnancy. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 2023;15:251–256. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1068128
  7. 7. Watson HJ, Torgersen L, Zerwas S, Reichborn-Kjennerud T, Knoph C, Stoltenberg C, et al. Eating Disorders, Pregnancy, and the Postpartum Period: Findings from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Norsk epidemiologi = Norwegian journal of epidemiology 2014;24(1-2):51–62. https://doi.org/10.5324/nje. v24i1-2.1758
  8. 8. Currin L, Schmidt U, Treasure J, Jick H. Time trends in eating disorder incidence. The British journal of psychiatry. The journal of mental science 2005;186,132–135. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.186.2.132

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Mental Health Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 4, 2026

Submission Date

March 27, 2026

Acceptance Date

July 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 17 Number: July, August, September 2026

APA
Bayri Bingol, F., Aydoğan, A., Pişkin, E., Akar, E., & Yetişen, Z. (2026). The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 17(July, August, September 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1916887
AMA
1.Bayri Bingol F, Aydoğan A, Pişkin E, Akar E, Yetişen Z. The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026;17(July, August, September 2026). doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1916887
Chicago
Bayri Bingol, Fadime, Arzu Aydoğan, Emine Pişkin, Esma Akar, and Zümre Yetişen. 2026. “The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 (July, August, September 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1916887.
EndNote
Bayri Bingol F, Aydoğan A, Pişkin E, Akar E, Yetişen Z (August 1, 2026) The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17 July, August, September 2026
IEEE
[1]F. Bayri Bingol, A. Aydoğan, E. Pişkin, E. Akar, and Z. Yetişen, “The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia”, Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg, vol. 17, no. July, August, September 2026, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.31067/acusaglik.1916887.
ISNAD
Bayri Bingol, Fadime - Aydoğan, Arzu - Pişkin, Emine - Akar, Esma - Yetişen, Zümre. “The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 17/July, August, September 2026 (August 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1916887.
JAMA
1.Bayri Bingol F, Aydoğan A, Pişkin E, Akar E, Yetişen Z. The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026;17. doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1916887.
MLA
Bayri Bingol, Fadime, et al. “The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia”. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 17, no. July, August, September 2026, Aug. 2026, doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1916887.
Vancouver
1.Fadime Bayri Bingol, Arzu Aydoğan, Emine Pişkin, Esma Akar, Zümre Yetişen. The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, During Pregnancy Emotional Eating and Orthorexia. Acibadem Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2026 Aug. 1;17(July, August, September 2026). doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1916887