Does reward processing moderate or mediate the link between childhood adversity and psychopathology: A longitudinal study.

Childhood adversity is common and associated with elevated risk for transdiagnostic psychopathology. Reward processing has been implicated in the link between adversity and psychopathology, but whether it serves as a mediator or moderator is unclear. This study examined whether alterations in behavioral and neural reward processing function as a mechanism or moderator of psychopathology outcomes following adversity experiences, including threat (i.e., trauma) and deprivation. A longitudinal community sample of 10-15-year-old youths was assessed across two waves (Wave 1: n = 228; Wave 2: n = 206). Wave 1 assessed adverse experiences, psychopathology symptoms, reward processing on a monetary incentive delay task, and resting-state fMRI. At Wave 2, psychopathology symptoms were reassessed. Greater threat experiences were associated with blunted behavioral reward sensitivity, which, in turn, predicted increases in depression symptoms over time and mediated the prospective association between threat and depression symptoms. In contrast, reward sensitivity moderated the association between deprivation experiences and prospective externalizing symptoms such that the positive association of deprivation with increasing externalizing symptoms was absent for children with high levels of reward sensitivity.

Food insecurity, weight-based discrimination, weight self-stigma, and mental health in post-bariatric surgery patients.

The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity (FI) as reduced quality and variety of diet or overall reduced food intake. To date, limited research has investigated the relationship between FI, weight stigma, and bariatric surgery. The existing literature suggests that FI in bariatric surgery patients is significantly associated with being a person of color, depression, receiving Medicare or Medicaid, and higher eating disorder (ED) pathology. Research also suggests that weight stigma in bariatric surgery patients is associated with worsened weight loss outcomes. No research to our knowledge has investigated FI, internalized weight stigma, weight-based discrimination, and history of bariatric surgery in one sample. Bariatric surgery patients in this study (N = 266) reported elevated rates of FI relative to the general population, via an online questionnaire. Those with FI also reported higher rates of depression, anxiety, ED pathology, internalized weight stigma, and experiences of weight-based discrimination compared to those who were food secure. Given these findings, bariatric surgical centers should evaluate all potential patients for FI before surgery and, at the bare minimum, provide additional support before and post-surgery. The ethics of conducting bariatric surgery in those with FI who lack significant medical comorbidity also must be considered.