A taxometric study of the latent structure of disgust sensitivity: Converging evidence for dimensionality.

Abstract

Disgust sensitivity has recently been implicated as a specific vulnerability factor for several anxiety-related disorders. However, it is not clear whether disgust sensitivity is a dimensional or categorical phenomenon. The present study examined the latent structure of disgust by applying three taxometric procedures (maximum eigenvalue, mean above minus below a cut, and latent-mode factor analysis) to data collected from 2 large nonclinical samples on 2 different measures of disgust sensitivity. Disgust sensitivity in the first sample (n=1,153) was operationalized by disgust reactions to food, animals, body products, sex, body envelope violations, death, hygiene, and sympathetic magic, as assessed by the Disgust Sensitivity Scale (J. Haidt, C. McCauley, & P. Rozin, 1994). Disgust Sensitivity Scale indicators of core, animal reminder, and contamination disgust were also examined in the 1st sample. Disgust sensitivity in the 2nd independent sample (n=1,318) was operationalized by disgust reactions to animals, injections and blood draws, mutilation and death, rotting foods, and odors, as assessed by the Disgust Emotion Scale (R. A. Kleinknecht, E. E. Kleinknecht, & R. M. Thorndike, 1997). Results across both samples provide converging evidence that disgust sensitivity is best conceptualized as a dimensional construct, present to a greater or lesser extent in all individuals. These findings are discussed in relation to the conceptualization and assessment of disgust sensitivity as a specific dimensional vulnerability for certain anxiety and related disorders.

Disgust proneness and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in a clinical sample: Structural differentiation from negative affect

“…Such a predisposition towards experiencing disgust may also consist of the tendency to appraise the experience of disgust more negatively. Treatment outcome research has shown that disgust proneness is relatively stable over time (de Jong, Andrea, & Muris, 1997;Smits, Telch, & Randall, 2002) and taxometric analysis has revealed that the trait is present to a greater or lesser extent in all individuals (Olatunji & Broman-Fulks, 2007). The origins of excessive disgust proneness is unclear and delineating its origins is complicated by the absence of disgust at birth (Rozin & Fallon, 1987).…”

Why disgust matters

“…Disgust sensitivity varies from one individual to another along a continuum [58]. We might expect then that individuals at the very high, or very low ends of the spectrum might manifest behavioural problems associated with being too easily or too little disgusted.…”

Selective effects of excessive engagement in health-related behaviours on disgust propensity

“…Personality researchers have conceptualised variability in this level of activation to partially reflect individual differences in disgust proneness, a trait-like tendency to experience disgust frequently and intensely (Haidt, McCauley, & Rozin, 1994). Indeed, taxometric research has shown that disgust propensity is best conceptualised as a dimensional construct that is present to a greater or lesser extent in all individuals (Olatunji & Broman-Fulks, 2007). Although much remains unknown about the development of disgust propensity, pathogen pressures may have led to the selection of disgust propensity in individuals that is universal and plastic to local environmental variation (Curtis et al, 2011).…”