title: Emotions mediate the relationship between autistic traits and disordered eating: A new autistic-emotional model for eating pathology.
abstract: 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, 17-48 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.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rozenblat
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia; Center for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paganini
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological medicine, Section of Eating Disorders, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Treasure
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Isabel.krug@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Krug
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001290:Attitude; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010641:Phenotype; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes towards emotional expression; Autism spectrum disorder; Autism spectrum quotient; Eating disorders; Emotion dysregulation; Empathising