Healthy orthorexia, orthorexia nervosa, and personality traits in a community sample in Turkey

Abstract

Objective Orthorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a rigid preoccupation with a perceived healthy diet. However, little is known about healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa. We aim to examine the relationship between healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa scores and personality traits in a Turkish sample. Methods Three hundred fifty participants from a community sample aged 18-65 were included in the study. The participants completed a sociodemographic data collection form, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS), and Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). Results The frequency of healthy orthorexia was 32.3%, and orthorexia nervosa was 10.2% in our sample. There were no differences between genders regarding healthy orthorexia and orthorexia nervosa scores. Healthy orthorexia symptoms were negatively correlated with depression and anxiety (r = −.11 and r = −.20, respectively, P < .05) while positively correlated with agreeableness (r = .17), conscientiousness (r = .14), and extraversion (r = .15). Orthorexia nervosa symptoms was positively associated with anxiety (r = .12), depression (r = .10), and healthy orthorexia (r = .55). Hierarchical regression analyses showed that depression is negatively associated with healthy orthorexia symptoms, explaining a 4% variance. The Agreeableness trait was positively associated with healthy orthorexia symptoms and explained a 4% variance. However, regression analyses could not demonstrate a specific association with orthorexia nervosa symptoms. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to examine the relationships between personality traits, healthy orthorexia, and orthorexia nervosa symptoms in a Turkish sample. Examining specific sociocultural factors is essential to understand orthorexia nervosa and healthy eating behaviors.