Disgust sensitivity and eating behaviour

Abstract

Background The relation between emotions and food disorders has been studied in depth, although disgust sensitivity has been frequently avoided even though it has been suggested that it could play some role in these disorders. Objective To analyse the relation between eating-related variables and other psychopathological variables with disgust sensitivity. Design Descriptive, cross comparison of two samples (clinical and control). Subjects and setting 57 patients with eating disorders and 40 university students were studied. The presence of eating disorders in the latter was a reason for being excluded. Measurements Disgust sensitivity scale, visual analogue scales for dyspepsia, a state-trait anxiety inventory, a depression inventory, an eating disorder inventory, and a thought-shape fusion questionnaire. Statistical analysis The differences between groups were analysed using a variance analysis. Associations among variables were studied using Pearson's correlation coefficient and a multiple regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors (psychopathological, related with disgust sensitivity) of variables related with the eating behaviour. Results There were no significant differences between the groups neither in the total disgust sensitivity marking nor in its sub-scales. The drive to thinness was in correlation with core disgust (r = 0.288; p < 0.01), animal reminder (r = 0.275; p < 0.05), contamination (r = 0.304; p < 0.01) and disgust sensitivity (r = 0.354; p < 0.01), and the body dissatisfaction correlated with core disgust (r = 0.25; p < 0.05), contamination (r = 0.371; p < 0.01) and disgust sensitivity (r = 0.323; p < 0.01). Conclusions In spite of the absence of significant differences between groups, where it comes to disgust sensitivity, the relation between this sensitivity and other sensitivities specifically related with the eating behaviour, which are important in eating disorders, should be highlighted.