Childhood sexual violence and eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background: Childhood sexual violence (CSV) has been consistently linked to adverse psychiatric outcomes, yet the magnitude and specificity of its association with eating disorders (EDs) across diagnostic subtypes remain incompletely characterized. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42022328452). PubMed and PsycINFO were searched from 2002 to February 2026. Studies were included if they reported a binary CSV measure and a categorical ED outcome. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random-or fixed-effects models. Overlapping research samples were systematically identified and excluded. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex composition and methodological quality. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test and trim-and-fill correction. Results: Forty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. CSV was significantly associated with elevated odds of all ED subtypes: anorexia nervosa (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.46-3.06), bulimia nervosa (OR = 3.86, 95% CI: 2.98-5.00), binge eating disorder (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 2.03-3.69), and any ED broadly defined (OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 2.34-3.27). Associations persisted in female-only and high-quality subgroups. Funnel plot asymmetry was detected for binge eating disorder and any ED, in opposite directions. Trim-and-fill adjusted estimates remained significant in both cases. Conclusions: CSV was associated with elevated odds of ED pathology across all diagnostic subtypes examined, with the strongest association observed for bulimia nervosa, and consistently elevated odds across bingespectrum disorders.
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BibTeX
@article{klaimy2026childhood,
title = {{Childhood sexual violence and eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Mira Klaimy and Marion Fareng and Fabienne El-Khoury Lesueur},
journal = {Psychiatry Research Communications},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.psycom.2026.100290},
url = {https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-05777673v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Childhood sexual violence and eating disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Mira Klaimy
AU - Marion Fareng
AU - Fabienne El-Khoury Lesueur
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/05
JO - Psychiatry Research Communications
DO - 10.1016/j.psycom.2026.100290
UR - https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-05777673v1
AB - Background: Childhood sexual violence (CSV) has been consistently linked to adverse psychiatric outcomes, yet the magnitude and specificity of its association with eating disorders (EDs) across diagnostic subtypes remain incompletely characterized. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42022328452). PubMed and PsycINFO were searched from 2002 to February 2026. Studies were included if they reported a binary CSV measure and a categorical ED outcome. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using random-or fixed-effects models. Overlapping research samples were systematically identified and excluded. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex composition and methodological quality. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test and trim-and-fill correction. Results: Forty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. CSV was significantly associated with elevated odds of all ED subtypes: anorexia nervosa (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.46-3.06), bulimia nervosa (OR = 3.86, 95% CI: 2.98-5.00), binge eating disorder (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 2.03-3.69), and any ED broadly defined (OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 2.34-3.27). Associations persisted in female-only and high-quality subgroups. Funnel plot asymmetry was detected for binge eating disorder and any ED, in opposite directions. Trim-and-fill adjusted estimates remained significant in both cases. Conclusions: CSV was associated with elevated odds of ED pathology across all diagnostic subtypes examined, with the strongest association observed for bulimia nervosa, and consistently elevated odds across bingespectrum disorders.
SN - 2772-5987
SN - 2772-5987
ER -