Are the obsessive-compulsive traits a moderator for the relationship between autism and anorexia? A cross-sectional study among university students

Abstract

Objective

It is known that there is a high comorbidity between eating disorders and autistic traits among both the clinical and non-clinical populations. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the relationship between ASD and AN, and the effects of obsessive-compulsive traits. Participants: The study has been conducted in a non-clinical sample. A total of 290 university students have been included. Methods: Autism Quotient (AQ), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and Maudsley Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) have been used. Results: There is a positive relationship between EAT-40, MOCI scores, and AQ total scores. However, after controlling the sex and MOCI scores relation in total AQ and EAT-40 scores, they have become statistically insignificant. In regression, only MOCI scores and AQ Communication subscale scores have been able to predict the EAT-40 scores. Conclusions: It has been found that the relationship between autistic traits and eating attitudes is moderated by obsessive-compulsive traits.

Keywords:

• Anorexia
• autistic traits
• eating disorder
• nonclinical
• obsessive

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the university students who have participated in our study voluntarily.

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of Turkey and received approval from the Necmettin Erbakan University Ethical Committee.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.