Disgust Sensitivity Research Articles

Parents are Less Disgust Sensitive than Non-Parents, and Child Presence has No Effect on Parent Disgust Sensitivity

SYNOPSIS Objective. As child’s immune system is underdeveloped, compensatory mechanisms are needed to protect a child from pathogen threat. Increased disgust sensitivity in a child’s parent could be such a mechanism, and this study tested if parents are more disgust sensitive than non-parents (parental effect) and if parents declare higher disgust sensitivity when their offspring is nearby (child presence effect). Design. 995 adult men and women, who were either parents or childless, completed the pathogen subscale of the Three Domains of Disgust Scale and the Food Disgust Scale. Parents either were or were not accompanied by their offspring during responding. Results. Women are more disgust sensitive than men, and parents less sensitive to generalized pathogen disgust than childless individuals. Conclusions. This effect emerges in an opposite direction to what parental effects would suggest. No support for a child presence effect emerged.

EXPRESS: Disgust drivers do not impact on the altered body in action representation in anorexia nervosa.

Disgust is a powerful emotion, that evolved to protect us from contamination and diseases; it also cores to very human feelings, such as shame. In anorexia nervosa, most of the knowledge on disgust regards food. However, disgust can be elicited by varied drivers, including body-related self-disgust, which may be more central to this condition. Here, we investigate in depth how disgust triggers related to the body influence altered representations in anorexia nervosa.Women with anorexia nervosa and healthy women performed the Hand Laterality Task, in which they were asked to judge the laterality of hands without and with a disgust charging feature (i.e. with a body product or with a body violation). We computed accuracy and reaction time for the effect of biomechanical constraints, an index of motor imagery. We also measured the general disgust sensitivity through a self-report questionnaire.Participants with anorexia nervosa were overall less accurate and slower compared to controls, suggesting a non-canonical (i.e. not based on motor imagery) approach to solving the task. However, they showed the same pattern of responses as controls for disgust-charged stimuli, despite reporting higher levels of disgust sensitivity.Our results suggested the absence of specific effects of disgust drivers on the (altered) body in action representation in anorexia nervosa. We discuss this evidence focusing on the role of the psychopathological symptoms characterizing anorexia nervosa. We also reflect on the efficacy of experimental methodologies used to detect alterations in body representation in this clinical condition.

Signal detection analysis of affective prosody recognition in forensic inpatients who have committed sexual offenses

ABSTRACT Socio-affective functioning, or the way we interact and relate to others, is one of the four dynamic sexual recidivism risk domains. Accurately recognizing emotions enables the inference of mental and affective states supporting social adaptation. As little attention has been paid to affective prosody recognition in forensic inpatients who have committed sexual offenses (FICSOs), this study assessed the accuracy and sensitivity scores of 111 male participants assigned into three groups: FICSOs (n = 35), forensic inpatients who have committed non-sexual offenses (FICNSOs, n = 26) and community members (CoM, n = 50). Collected data also include response bias, emotion labeling reflection time, task easiness and task easiness reflection time. Using non-parametric group comparisons (Kruskal–Wallis H and Mann–Whitney U), results highlight, overall, a pervasive impairment of affective prosody recognition in FICSOs and FICNSOs compared to CoM. However, there was no difference in disgust sensitivity scores between FICSOs and CoM. FICSOs and FICNSOs took significantly longer than CoM to select an emotional label, especially for happiness. In addition, a metacognitive impairment was found in FICSOs and FICNSOs as they found the task significantly easier than CoM while being less sensitive.

How Do Age and Attitudes Affect the Quality of Data Collected by Young Citizen Scientists in an Ecological Research Project?

Citizen science is increasingly used to collect ecological data. Specifically, participation of school students in authentic research has been suggested as having a multitude of benefits from serving as data collection to providing science education. Nevertheless, the overall quality and quantity of data is concerning for ecologists who are using data for research. In the Helsinki Urban Rat Project, lower- and upper secondary school students (13-19-year-old) collect data on urban rat occurrence using track plates that record rat footprints. I measured the success of school-aged citizen scientists in collecting and submitting data, and I determined the accuracy of the data they submitted by comparing their results to the results from professional researchers. Furthermore, I used additional questionnaire to relate success and accuracy to student attributes, including age, attitudes about biology as a school subject, interest in the environment and disgust sensitivity toward rats. I learned that, in contrast to results from previous studies, age was not a significant variable but rather available support from a teacher and voluntary participation with rewards were associated with higher data quality. Additionally, attitudes played a part in observer quality: higher liking of biology as a school subject was associated with lower accuracy, whereas a higher interest in the environment was associated with higher accuracy. The young citizen scientists provided broadly accurate data, although false-positive observations were comparatively common. The results suggest that the quality and quantity of citizen-generated data are not straightforwardly dependent on the selected target groups. Citizen science activities should be planned by careful consideration of the context as, for example, the organization of the participation strongly shapes the participatory activities.

Assessing moderated mediation effects influencing consumer acceptance of cell-cultured Meat: A PLS-SEM modeling approach

Cell-cultured meat, as a novel food, is often met with limited consumer understanding, leading to a predominantly conservative attitude and lower acceptance. To gain insights into the key factors influencing consumer acceptance of cell-cultured meat, this study constructs a moderated mediation model to examine the relationship between food techneophobia (FTN), food disgust sensitivity (FDS), and acceptance of cell-cultured meat. Moreover, we investigate the mediating effects of perceived benefits (PB) and perceived risk (PR), as well as the moderating effect of information acquisition (IA). A field survey was conducted in 2020 with 4,841 Chinese consumers in households. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that PB is the strongest positive influencing factor of acceptance. FTN has a better predictive effect on acceptance than FDS. Both FTN and FDS can reduce PB and increase PR, thereby lowering acceptance. Partial mediation of PB and PR between FTN and acceptance of cell-cultured meat is observed, while full mediation of PB and PR exists between FDS and acceptance. IA can mitigate the negative impact of FDS on PB, thereby enhancing consumer acceptance of cell-cultured meat. This study contributes to the current literature by employing PLS-SEM as an assessment model for examining direct and mediation relationships. Understanding the factors that shape consumers’ perceptions and influnce their acceptance is essential for effective forecasting and strategic decision-making in the novel food industry.

Proactive Personality and Caring Behavior of Clinical Nurses: A Moderated Mediation Model of Emotional Intelligence and Disgust Sensitivity.

The aims of the research were to investigate the mediating effect of emotional intelligence and the moderating effect of disgust sensitivity on the relationship between proactive personality and caring behavior among clinical nurses. A cross-sectional design while adhering to STROBE guidelines was used for this study. Three hundred ninety-three purposely selected nurses from three tertiary general hospitals completed an online survey. Measures included proactive personality, emotional intelligence, disgust sensitivity, and caring behavior. The findings showed that proactive personality positively predicted nurses' caring behavior, and that emotional intelligence played a mediating role in the relationship between proactive personality and caring behavior. Disgust sensitivity indirectly and negatively moderated the impact of proactive personality on nurses' caring behavior mainly in the second half of this moderated relationship. The findings underscore that the nursing managers may consider incorporating emotional intelligence topic in practical nursing skills training and improving nurses' ability to control their disgust sensitivity can improve their professional behavior, thus to provide patients with high-quality nursing services.

Main and interactive effects of negative posttraumatic cognitions and disgust sensitivity in predicting daily experiences of sexual trauma-related mental contamination.

Main and interactive effects of negative posttraumatic cognitions and disgust sensitivity in predicting daily experiences of sexual trauma-related mental contamination.

The identification of the relationship between nursing students’ disgust sensitivity and willingness to care for the elderly: The case of a university

ObjectivesIn clinical learning environments, nursing students frequently encounter situations that cause physical disgust. It is believed that a high sensitivity to disgust among students can negatively affect their academic performance and caregiving behavior. This study was conducted to identify the relationship between nursing students’ disgust sensitivity and willingness to care for older adults. MethodThis descriptive and cross-sectional research was conducted with 807 volunteer participants studying at the Department of Nursing of a university in southeast Turkey. The research data were collected by using the Personal Information Form, the Disgust Sensitivity Scale - Revised Form (DS-R), and the Willingness to Care for the Elderly Scale (WCES) . Descriptive statistics, the Student's t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, the One-Way Analysis of Variance, and Pearson's correlation were used in the analysis of research data. ResultsIn the research, nursing students’ mean DS-R and WCES scores were calculated respectively as 77.93 ± 16.40 and 34.16 ± 5.98 points. A statistically significant negative relationship was found between nursing students’ DS-R and WCES scores (p < 0.05). In the research, there were statistically significant differences in nursing students’ mean DS-R scores as per the variables of student gender and class year. Also, it was found that, as per the variables of student nationality and the status of assuming responsibility for the care of a sick or old relative, there were statistically significant differences in both nursing students’ mean DS-R scores and their mean WCES scores (p < 0.05). ConclusionIt was concluded that nursing students had high-level disgust sensitivity and medium-level willingness to care for an older adult. As the disgust sensitivity of the nursing students increased, their willingness to care for an older adult was negatively affected. Therefore, it is important that nurse educators evaluate nursing students’ disgust sensitivity and help nursing students define and eliminate their disgust emotions

The 4D Model of American Political Conservatism: Disgust, Disorder Aversion, Deontology, and (Social) Dominance

Over the decades, numerous researchers have identified psychological predictors of conservative and liberal political orientation. However, most research teams have focused on a single predictor at a time, occasionally two. Moreover, most researchers have tended to stay within the theoretical and methodological confines of their subdiscipline (e.g., social psychology vs. personality psychology). Here, we review and integrate evidence across different subdisciplines to propose a constellation of four psychological constructs (disgust sensitivity, preference for order, deontological morality, and social dominance orientation) that, working together, form a more nuanced and fine-grained account of why people are attracted to different ends of the political spectrum. In doing so, we demonstrate the usefulness of moving beyond operationalizing political orientation in a single-dimensional (left-to-right) manner. We suggest that the proposed “4D Model” represents an incremental advance that makes more specific predictions about who will be attracted to which strands of political conservatism.

Relationships between tryptophan-related gut metabolites, brain activity, and autism symptomatology.

Gut microbial metabolites have been theorized to play a causative role in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This hypothesis is based on results from mechanistic preclinical studies and several correlational studies showing differences in gut microbial composition between ASD subjects and neurotypical (NT) controls. However, alterations in how the human brain interacts with the gut microbiome in ASD have not been examined. In this cross-sectional, case-control observational study, fecal metabolomics, task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and behavioral assessments were obtained from 43 ASD and 41 NT children aged 8-17. The fMRI tasks were based on socio-emotional and sensory paradigms that commonly show strong evoked brain differences in ASD participants. General linear models and mediational modeling were applied to examine the links between tryptophan metabolism and evoked brain activity and behavior. Results indicated that fecal levels of specific tryptophan-related metabolites were associated with: 1) brain activity atypicalities in regions previously implicated in ASD (i.e., insula and cingulate); and 2) ASD severity and symptomatology (i.e., ADOS scores, disgust propensity, and sensory sensitivities). Importantly, activity in the mid-insula and mid-cingulate significantly mediated relationships between the microbial tryptophan metabolites, indolelactate and tryptophan betaine, and ASD severity and disgust sensitivity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to elucidate how interactions between gut metabolites and brain activity may impact autism symptomatology, particularly in functional brain pathways associated with vagal and interoceptive/emotion processing.

Correlates of depression in individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder

ABSTRACT The existing literature examining the correlates of depression in individuals with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by inconsistent results. The aim of the current study was to replicate and extend the literature by exploring whether various clinical and demographic factors are related to the occurrence of depression in a large sample (N = 243) of individuals with OCD (M age = 33.00; SD = 12.47; 74% female). Individuals with OCD who had elevated comorbid depressive symptoms [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item (PHQ-9) ≥10] scored significantly higher on all OCD symptom subtypes (p range < .001–.048), had greater obsessive and compulsive severity (ps < .001), scored higher on perfectionism (p < .001), and had higher disgust sensitivity and propensity scores (ps < .001) compared with individuals who did not have comorbid depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 < 10). Of these variables, obsession severity (β = 0.22, p = .004), OCD contamination subtype (β = 0.16, p = .032) and perfectionism (β = 0.25, p < .001) were found to be associated with depressive symptoms on the PHQ-9. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of factors which are associated with depression comorbidity in individuals with OCD.

Association between Disgust Sensitivity during Pregnancy and Endogenous Steroids: A Longitudinal Study.

The emotion of disgust protects individuals against pathogens, and it has been found to be elevated during pregnancy. Physiological mechanisms discussed in relation to these changes include immune markers and progesterone levels. This study aimed to assess the association between steroids and disgust sensitivity in pregnancy. Using a prospective longitudinal design, we analyzed blood serum steroid concentrations and measured disgust sensitivity via text-based questionnaires in a sample of 179 pregnant women during their first and third trimesters. We found positive correlations between disgust sensitivity and the levels of C19 steroids (including testosterone) and its precursors in the Δ5 pathway (androstenediol, DHEA, and their sulfates) and the Δ4 pathway (androstenedione). Additionally, positive correlations were observed with 5α/β-reduced C19 steroid metabolites in both trimesters. In the first trimester, disgust sensitivity was positively associated with 17-hydroxypregnanolone and with some estrogens. In the third trimester, positive associations were observed with cortisol and immunoprotective Δ5 C19 7α/β-hydroxy-steroids. Our findings show that disgust sensitivity is positively correlated with immunomodulatory steroids, and in the third trimester, with steroids which may be related to potential maternal-anxiety-related symptoms. This study highlights the complex relationship between hormonal changes and disgust sensitivity during pregnancy.

Sex differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity: Testing the coalitional hunting and warfare hypothesis.

Sex differences in pathogen disgust sensitivity: Testing the coalitional hunting and warfare hypothesis.

Supplemental Material for Sex Differences in Pathogen Disgust Sensitivity: Testing the Coalitional Hunting and Warfare Hypothesis

Supplemental Material for Sex Differences in Pathogen Disgust Sensitivity: Testing the Coalitional Hunting and Warfare Hypothesis

Predictors and memory consequences of dating decisions in a dating app-analogue study.

With the rise of dating apps, people have access to a vast pool of potential partners at their fingertips. The present study examined how various factors would predict an individual's dating decisions in a dating app-analogue study. Participants (N = 269) first completed some trait measures and then a mock-dating task in which they judged the attractiveness of a series of targets and then decided whether to match with the target or not. Their memories for the targets were tested on the second day. People who were more (vs. less) short-term oriented were more likely to match with short-term-oriented targets. Moral disgust and sexual disgust negatively predicted the matching with short-term-oriented targets. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not find support that people with higher (vs. lower) pathogen disgust sensitivity would selectively match with more attractive targets. Exploratory analyses showed that people who were more (vs. less) short-term oriented, more (vs. less) sexually attractive, or had higher (v. lower) mate value, were more likely to match with targets they considered as attractive. Finally, people have better memories of the faces they chose to match than to not match. Implications for mating research and limitations are discussed.

Long-term disgust habituation with limited generalisation in care home workers.

Countless workers handle bodily effluvia and body envelope violations every working day, and consequentially face deeply unpleasant levels of disgust. Understanding if and how they adapt can help inform policies to improve worker satisfaction and reduce staff turnover. So far, limited evidence exist that self-reported disgust is reduced (or lower to begin with) among those employed in high-disgust environments. However, it is unclear if this is due to demand effects or translates into real behavioural changes. Here, we tested healthcare assistants (N = 32) employed in UK care homes and a control sample (N = 50). We replicated reduced self-reported pathogen disgust sensitivity in healthcare workers compared to controls. We also found it negatively correlated with career duration, suggesting long-term habituation. Furthermore, we found that healthcare assistants showed no behavioural disgust avoidance on a web-based preferential looking task (equivalent to eye tracking). Surprisingly, this extended to disgust elicitors found outside care homes, suggesting generalisation of disgust habituation. While we found no difference between bodily effluvia (core disgust) and body envelope violations (gore disgust), generalisation did not extend to other domains: self-reported sexual and moral disgust sensitivity were not different between healthcare assistants and the control group, nor was there a correlation with career duration. In sum, our work confirms that people in high-frequency disgust employment are less sensitive to pathogen disgust. Crucially, we provide preliminary evidence that this is due to a process of long-term habituation with generalisation to disgust-elicitors within the pathogen domain, but not beyond it.

An empirical investigation of emotion and the criminal law: towards a “criminalization bias”?

This interdisciplinary study, coupling philosophy of law with empirical cognitive science, presents preliminary insight into the role of emotion in criminalization decisions, for both laypeople and legal professionals. While the traditional approach in criminalization theory emphasizes the role of deliberative and reasoned argumentation, this study hypothesizes that affective and emotional processes (i.e., disgust, as indexed by a dispositional proneness to experience disgust) are also associated with the decision to criminalize behavior, in particular virtual child pornography. To test this empirically, an online study (N = 1402) was conducted in which laypeople and legal professionals provided criminalization ratings on four vignettes adapted from criminal law, in which harmfulness and disgustingness were varied orthogonally. They also completed the 25-item Disgust Scale-Revised (DS-R-NL). In line with the hypothesis, (a) the virtual child pornography vignette (characterized as low in harm, high in disgust) was criminalized more readily than the financial harm vignette (high in harm, low in disgust), and (b) disgust sensitivity was associated with the decision to criminalize behavior, especially virtual child pornography, among both lay participants and legal professionals. These findings suggest that emotion can be relevant in shaping criminalization decisions. Exploring this theoretically, the results could serve as a stepping stone towards a new perspective on criminalization, including a “criminalization bias”. Study limitations and implications for legal theory and policymaking are discussed.

Nursing students and disgust emotion

Disgust is an emotional response to a real or perceived disgusting situation. This emotion is present at all levels of human life, both individual and societal. Disgust could be involved in a wide range of psychopathology such as anxiety. Likewise, disgust influence negatively the motivation. It is an emotion commonly experienced by health professionals and nursing students.The synonyms of disgust and nursing students were identified, and then research has been conducted using, Boolean operators such as Disgust or Revulsion AND Nursing Students OR Pupil Nurses. The databases consulted were: Pubmed, Google scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of science. The selected articles were full-text manuscripts written in English and French, and each contained keywords related to the study in their title or abstract.Nursing students experienced disgust during their training. Some students said that it is inappropriate to express this emotion to keep the patient’s trust. Disgust sensitivity can influence the choice of professional careers. A negative correlation was reported between disgust sensitivity and care behaviors such as accessibility, anticipation, and trust. Nursing students suggest avoiding the use of the word "disgust" and instead using other terms such as "difficult", and "challenge". In addition, students said that with time and exposure, many potential disgust inducers lose their effects and become habitual. Other measures were noted like the use of protective equipment. It was also reported that training staff could help students overcome difficult situations. Indeed, awareness of the importance of supporting students during training and assessing their disgust sensitivity is an essential stage to manage this emotion.According to the consulted articles, nursing students may experience disgust. Therefore, it is necessary to support them in both clinical and academic settings. It is also important to assess their sensitivity to disgust and help them to identify and to manage their emotions. In light of the lack of studies on disgust among nursing students, future research will enhance this field.

An Exploratory Study of Disgust Sensitivity among Medical Practitioners

An Exploratory Study of Disgust Sensitivity among Medical Practitioners

Changes in perceived vulnerability to disease, resilience, and disgust sensitivity during the pandemic: A longitudinal study

Changes in perceived vulnerability to disease, resilience, and disgust sensitivity during the pandemic: A longitudinal study