Emotions mediate the relationship between autistic traits and disordered eating: A new autistic-emotional model for eating pathology

TY - JOUR

T1 - Emotions mediate the relationship between autistic traits and disordered eating: A new autistic-emotional model for eating pathology

AU - Mansour, Salma

AU - Rozenblat, Vanja

AU - Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew

AU - Paganini, Chiara

AU - Treasure, Janet

AU - Krug, Isabel

PY - 2016/8/8

Y1 - 2016/8/8

N2 - The aim of the study was to assess the extent of overlap between autistic traits, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating and to explore the mediating effects of negative attitudes towards emotional expression and emotion dysregulation. The sample comprised 416 university students (82% females, 17 to 48 years [M = 19.76, SD = 3.85]), who completed an online questionnaire assessing eating attitudes and behaviours (including dieting, bulimia and oral control), body dissatisfaction, and autistic traits (including the Autism Quotient [AQ] and its related subscales as well as the Empathising Quotient). Attitudes towards emotional expression and emotion regulation were also assessed. Results revealed that eating pathology correlated highly with all AQ subscales, with the exception of the attention to detail subscale. However, there was no significant relationship between empathising and eating pathology. Path-analyses indicated that emotion dysregulation, but not negative attitudes towards emotional expression, was a significant mediator of the relationship between AQ, body dissatisfaction and eating pathology. Direct relationships were also obtained for the AQ-bulimia and the AQ-oral control paths. Prevention and early intervention programs for eating pathology would likely benefit from addressing abnormalities in emotion processes in individuals who score highly on measures of autistic traits.

AB - The aim of the study was to assess the extent of overlap between autistic traits, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating and to explore the mediating effects of negative attitudes towards emotional expression and emotion dysregulation. The sample comprised 416 university students (82% females, 17 to 48 years [M = 19.76, SD = 3.85]), who completed an online questionnaire assessing eating attitudes and behaviours (including dieting, bulimia and oral control), body dissatisfaction, and autistic traits (including the Autism Quotient [AQ] and its related subscales as well as the Empathising Quotient). Attitudes towards emotional expression and emotion regulation were also assessed. Results revealed that eating pathology correlated highly with all AQ subscales, with the exception of the attention to detail subscale. However, there was no significant relationship between empathising and eating pathology. Path-analyses indicated that emotion dysregulation, but not negative attitudes towards emotional expression, was a significant mediator of the relationship between AQ, body dissatisfaction and eating pathology. Direct relationships were also obtained for the AQ-bulimia and the AQ-oral control paths. Prevention and early intervention programs for eating pathology would likely benefit from addressing abnormalities in emotion processes in individuals who score highly on measures of autistic traits.

KW - Eating Disorders

KW - Autism Spectrum Disorder

KW - Autism Spectrum Quotient

KW - Empathising

KW - Attitudes towards Emotional Expression

KW - Emotion Dysregulation

U2 - 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.021

DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.08.021

M3 - Article

SN - 0165-1781

JO - Psychiatry Research

JF - Psychiatry Research

ER -