Converging paths: Autistic traits, body image concerns, and disordered eating symptoms in women

Abstract

Autistic traits, such as sensory sensitivities and rigid routines, have been linked to body dissatisfaction (BD) and eating disorders (EDs). However, the interplay between autistic traits, fat- and muscularity-related BD, and disordered eating remains underexplored.

This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between autistic traits, BD, and disordered eating in 298 women. Correlations and mediation analyses, alongside bootstrapping techniques, were used to evaluate relationships between variables.

Autistic traits were positively associated with “traditional” disordered eating symptoms including food avoidance and selective eating as well as appearance-related aspects of muscle dysmorphia. Autistic traits were positively associated with avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms. BD was elevated with increasing autistic traits, only in relation to body fat, not muscularity. Only body fat-related BD (BD-F), but not muscularity-related BD (BD-M) mediated the effect of autistic traits on disordered eating symptoms, predicting increases in both ED and body dysmorphic symptoms, as well as reductions in ARFID symptoms.

Our findings suggest that women with autistic traits may be more susceptible to internalizing socially perpetuated body ideals or to social feedback towards their appearance, as only stereotypically “female-typed” BD-F, but not “male-typed” dissatisfaction with muscularity (BD-M) mediated the link between autistic traits and disordered eating. Implications are discussed.