(PS7-25) Development and Initial Validation of the Daily Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale

Abstract Text: Disgust plays a significant role in a variety of emotional disorders, particularly contamination-related obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). Both disgust propensity (tendency to feel disgust) and disgust sensitivity (negative evaluation of disgust) have demonstrated associations with contamination OCS through surveys, longitudinal methods, and laboratory-based tasks. However, there is limited research investigating how this relationship unfolds within a daily context and the more immediate temporal relationship between disgust and contamination OCS. To investigate these relationships, a state-based, daily questionnaire for disgust is needed.
The daily Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale (d-DPSS) was created based on the Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale – Revised (DPSS-R). Questions were altered to focus on the present/state-like emotion, rather than trait-like disposition. Questions that could not be altered were removed, resulting in 4 questions on disgust emotionality (DE) and 4 questions on state disgust sensitivity (DS). Questions are rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 1 to 7. 77 participants (56 Female; M= 21.84, SD= 5.91) completed an online survey that included the DPSS-R and an emotion evocation picture task. For the emotion evocation task, participants viewed each picture for 5 seconds before the screen automatically progressed to a new screen with the picture, the d-DPSS, and a series of unrelated emotion items (e.g., ‘how relaxed are you’). This task included 10 photos: 6 related to different disgust domains (contamination and core disgust), 2 fear pictures (tornado and shark) and 2 neutral photos (playing card and fork). All pictures were previously validated for evoking these emotions.
DE and DS items were averaged for each set of pictures (disgust, fear, and neutral). Repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated a significant difference across categories (F(1, 75) = 883.18, p < 0.001) on the DE scales. Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc analyses demonstrated that disgust pictures (M= 14.93, SD= 4.76) were rated as significantly more disgusting than both fear (M= 5.40, SD= 2.95; p < 0.001) and neutral (M= 5.01, SD= 2.29; p < 0.001) images. Repeated measures ANOVA also demonstrated a significant difference between groups (F(1,75) = 580.59, p < 0.001) on the DS items. Bonferroni adjusted post-hoc analyses demonstrated that disgust pictures (M= 6.00, SD = 3.05) elicited greater DS than both fear (M = 4.49, SD = 1.24, p < 0.001) and neutral (M = 4.45, SD = 2.22, p < 0.001) images. Correlation analyses demonstrate a significant, positive, weak correlation between DE and DPSS-R total score (r = 0.346, p = 0.002), DE and DPSS-R disgust propensity (r = 0.276, p = 0.015), and DS and DPSS-R disgust sensitivity (r = 0.38, p < 0.001). There was a significant, positive, moderate correlation between DS and DPSS-R total score (r = 0.418, p < 0.001).
There is preliminary evidence that the d-DPSS is a valid measure of state disgust reactions and is adequately responsive to, and captures variability of, the current level of disgust in response to external stimuli. Further research is needed to investigate potential differences in trait-based and state-based disgust, as well as the ecological validity of the d-DPSS.