ARFID traits in a Portuguese community sample: association with autism spectrum traits and distress tolerance

Abstract

Objectives: This study explored the frequency of ARFID traits in a Portuguese adult community sample and investigated their relationship with potentially associated factors: autistic traits and distress tolerance. Method: A sample of 365 participants responded to an online set of self-report measures disseminated in an academic campus and by snowball procedure in the community, including sociodemographic data, the Nine Item ARFID Scale (NIAS), the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI), and the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Results: 49(10.1%), 14(2.7%), 37(7.7%) participants scored above the clinical cut-off of the subscales picky eating, fear of negative consequences, and lack of appetite, respectively, and 5(1.4%) scored above the cut-off in all subscales. Multiple linear regression [F(6,359)=7.10,p<.001,R2adj=.09] investigated which CATI subscales were most associated with NIAS total score, with only sensory sensitivity being significantly associated (=.19, t=2.82, p=.009). Moderation model tested DTS as a moderator between CATI sensory sensitivity and ARFID total score [F(3,362)=14.35,p<.001,R2=.11]. A significant main effect for CATI sensory sensitivity (b=.66,t=2.68,p=.008), but non-significant main effect for DTS (b=.95, t=.59, p=.56), and non-significant interaction effect (b=-.1,t=-1.41,p=.16) were found. Conclusion: Increased ARFID traits were associated with increased autistic traits, specifically sensory sensitivity, independently of the degree of distress tolerance.