Eating Disorder Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation: The Moderating Role of Disgust

Abstract

Disgust has been implicated as a factor that maintains and exacerbates eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Emerging research suggests that disgust may be a risk factor for suicidality. Given the high rates of suicidality among individuals with EDs, we propose that disgust may contribute to the link between EDs and suicidality. To test this hypothesis, self-report data were collected from 341 young adults (66% women). Cross-sectional associations between disgust with the self, others and the world and disgust sensitivity and propensity, ED symptoms and suicidal ideation were examined using multivariate regression analyses. ED symptoms and body dissatisfaction were associated with increased suicidal ideation at high levels of disgust with the self and the world; at low levels of disgust, ED symptoms and body dissatisfaction did not significantly relate to suicidal ideation. Disgust may indicate risk for suicidal ideation among individuals with eating psychopathology.

Keywords: disgust; eating disorder symptoms; suicidal ideation; suicide risk.