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Do orthorexia and intolerance of uncertainty mediate the relationship between autism spectrum traits and disordered eating symptoms?

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Autism spectrum disorder traits have been implicated in the psychopathology of eating disorders and may also be relevant for the development of orthorexia symptoms. Further, intolerance of uncertainty (IUS) may indirectly contribute to the development of disordered eating, as the displacement of anxiety onto food may help achieve a sense of control and maximise certainty. We examined a new cognitive model of eating pathology which assessed the role of IU and orthorexia symptoms as potential mediators of the relationship between autistic traits and disordered eating in a community sample.

Methods

Three-hundred-and-ninety-six female participants (M = 20.07, SD = 4.52 years old) completed an online self-report questionnaire which assessed the variables of interest.

Results

Despite finding significant bivariate correlations, our model results showed that autistic traits did not directly predict disordered eating or orthorexia symptoms. Significant indirect relationships were found between autistic traits and eating disorder symptoms through both IU and orthorexia symptoms.

Conclusion

The findings provide partial support for our proposed model suggesting that autistic traits may increase the vulnerability for disordered eating, not directly, but through their associations with mechanisms such as IU and the development of problematic eating behaviours typical of orthorexia. Future research should focus on whether targeting IU may assist in preventing the development of disordered eating.

Level of evidence

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

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Data availability

Data is available upon request from the corresponding author (Email: giless1@student.unimelb.edu.au).

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Funding

This research was supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 12th Floor Redmond Barry Building, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Sarah Giles, Madeline Toohey, Elizabeth K. Hughes & Isabel Krug

  2. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Elizabeth K. Hughes

  3. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Elizabeth K. Hughes

  4. Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz

  5. School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia

    Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz

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  1. Sarah Giles
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  2. Madeline Toohey
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  4. Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz
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  5. Isabel Krug
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Correspondence to Sarah Giles.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Ethical approval for the current study was obtained from the University of Melbourne Ethics Committee (HREC 1851160.3).

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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In accordance with community preferences, this article uses identity-first language to describe individuals with a diagnosis of autism, and traits related to autism (i.e., autistic person; autistic traits).

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Giles, S., Toohey, M., Hughes, E.K. et al. Do orthorexia and intolerance of uncertainty mediate the relationship between autism spectrum traits and disordered eating symptoms?. Eat Weight Disord 26, 2309–2316 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01094-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-01094-0

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