Honors Theses

College

College of Arts and Sciences

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Psychology

Department

Department of Psychology

Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major

Psychology

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

Objective: Research pertaining to Body Mass Index (BMI) and Childhood Trauma (CT) is very limited, with the main focus being on how these two variables correlate, disregarding other possible covariates. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of CT on BMI while including Exercise Frequency as a mediator of this relationship and sex as a moderator for both the direct and indirect relationships among these variables. Methods: Participants included 1,812 individuals (57.9% female and 42.1% male) who completed the Behavior Health Questionnaire, which included questions looking at exercise frequency, CT, and BMI. Results: CT was related negatively to exercise frequency, which acted as a mediator between CT and BMI. Sex only moderated the direct effect of CT on BMI. Conclusion: Sex and exercise frequency were both influential variables in the relationship between CT and BMI. Future research should focus on other variables such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, among others, to expand on the complex relationship between CT and BMI.

Publication Date

12-1-2021

First Advisor

McKinney, Clifford

Second Advisor

Berman, Mitchell

Third Advisor

Elder, Anastasia

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