An exploration of the nomological network of trypophobia

Abstract

Background Trypophobia is characterised by an aversion to or even revulsion for patterns of holes or visual stimuli featuring such patterns. Past research has shown that trypophobic stimuli trigger emotional and physiological reactions, but relatively little is known about the antecedents, prodromes, or simply covariates of trypophobia. Aim The goals of this study were (a) to draw the contours of the nomological network of trypophobia by assessing the associations of symptoms of trypophobia with several constructs that were deemed relevant from past research on anxiety disorders and specific phobias, (b) to compare such associations with those found for symptoms of spider phobia and blood and injection phobia (alternative dependent variables), and (c) to investigate the main effect of gender on symptoms of trypophobia and replicate the association of gender with symptoms of spider phobia and blood and injection phobia (higher scores for women). Methods Participants (N = 1,134, 53% men) in this cross-sectional study completed an online questionnaire assessing the constructs of interest. Results Most assessed constructs typically associated with anxiety disorders (neuroticism, conscientiousness, anxiety sensitivity, trait anxiety, disgust sensitivity, and disgust propensity) were also associated with trypophobia in the predicted direction. All of these constructs were also associated with spider phobia and blood and injection phobia. Behavioral inhibition was negatively associated with trypophobia and spider phobia—contrary to what was expected, but positively with blood and injection phobia. We found no gender difference in trypophobia, whereas women scored higher on spider phobia and blood and injection phobia. Discussion Although some differences were observed, the nomological network of trypophobia was largely similar to that of spider phobia and blood and injection phobia. Further studies are needed to clarify similarities and dissimilarities between trypophobia and specific phobia.

Excessive fear of clusters of holes, its interaction with stressful life events and the association with anxiety and depressive symptoms: large epidemiological study of young people in Hong Kong

“…Despite some overlaps with other phobias in symptom presentation and potential underlying neurobiological mechanisms, trypophobia is not considered to be a form of specific phobia in existing diagnostic systems. 17 In support of this, various studies have reported that the discomfort induced by trypophobic stimuli is more consistently linked to disgust sensitivity than to fear. 9 , 10 , 49 This has the benefit of limiting the stigma attached to trypophobia symptoms among community members.…”

“…Trypophobia represents a potentially suitable candidate: not only is it commonly discussed on online forums, 5 but it is also not officially considered to be a form of specific phobia according to existing diagnostic systems. 17 To the best of our knowledge, no study has yet examined the phenomenon of trypophobia in a large population-representative sample and how it may interact with external stressors to affect mental health. We therefore conducted a study first to establish the prevalence of trypophobia in the youth population of Hong Kong.…”

“…Trypophobia represents a potentially suitable candidate: not only is it commonly discussed on online forums, 5 but it is also not officially considered to be a form of specific phobia according to existing diagnostic systems. 17 …”

Is trypophobia real?

“…In sum, clusters of holes induce various forms of anxiety that can be measured both psychologically and physiologically. 28 As with most other phobias, the phenomenon is not mentioned or ‘listed’ in the DSM-5. Trypophobia does, however, reach the definition of a specific phobia; a phobia that, furthermore, is not uncommon.…”

Dispositional factors in the explanation of symptoms of depression, anxiety, health anxiety and COVID-19 Phobia

“…Determining which transient or durable vulnerability and protective factors have the strongest (or weakest) associations with outcomes of interest, and whether such outcomes differ in their associations with examined predictors, is an essential and frequent question in mental health research and epidemiology (e.g., [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]).…”