The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale
BackgroundDisgust is a fundamental emotion linked to survival, but its classification as a primary emotion remains debated. This study develops and validates a questionnaire assessing disgust as a primary emotion and examines its relationship with personality traits and psychopathology.MethodsA tota...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1607506/full |
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| author | Tobias Herzl Jürgen Fuchshuber Jürgen Fuchshuber Jürgen Fuchshuber Sarah Straßnig Afrodita Latifi Peter Walla Peter Walla Peter Walla Andreas Fink Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer |
| author_facet | Tobias Herzl Jürgen Fuchshuber Jürgen Fuchshuber Jürgen Fuchshuber Sarah Straßnig Afrodita Latifi Peter Walla Peter Walla Peter Walla Andreas Fink Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer |
| author_sort | Tobias Herzl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundDisgust is a fundamental emotion linked to survival, but its classification as a primary emotion remains debated. This study develops and validates a questionnaire assessing disgust as a primary emotion and examines its relationship with personality traits and psychopathology.MethodsA total of 482 German speaking participants completed an online survey. The sample was split for a principal component analysis (N = 250) and confirmatory (N = 232) factor analyses. Correlations and hierarchical regressions tested associations with personality traits and psychiatric symptoms.ResultsInitial item reduction via PCA resulted in two alternative unidimensional models with eight and five Items. CFA confirmed excellent model fit for both versions (DISGUST-8: χ2 = 13.00, p = 0.88, df = 20, χ2/df = 0.65, RMSEA = 0.000 (90% CI: 0.000, 0.057), CFI = 1.000; NFI = 0.992, TLI = 1.006, SRMR = 0.042; DISGUST-5: χ2 = 0.893, p = 0.97, df = 5, χ2/df = 0.18, RMSEA = 0.000 (90% CI: 0.000, 0.092); CFI = 1.000; NFI = 0.999; TLI = 1.011; SRMR = 0.017). Internal consistency was high for both versions (DISGUST-8: α = 0.89; DISGUST-5: α = 0.88). Trait disgust correlated highest with neuroticism (rDISGUST-8 = 0.36; rDISGUST-5 = 0.36) and anxiety (rDISGUST-8 = 0.27; rDISGUST-5 = 0.28). Regression analysis confirmed disgust as a significant predictor of neuroticism (t(457) = 4.19, β = 0.12).DiscussionThe findings highlight disgust’s role in personality and psychopathology. The developed scale reliably measures disgust, demonstrating its association with neuroticism. Future research should explore cross-cultural validation and refine the scale’s clinical applicability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7af6bcf721e4d6e9a7f3017356cadf6 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d7af6bcf721e4d6e9a7f3017356cadf62025-07-16T05:34:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612025-07-011910.3389/fnhum.2025.16075061607506The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scaleTobias Herzl0Jürgen Fuchshuber1Jürgen Fuchshuber2Jürgen Fuchshuber3Sarah Straßnig4Afrodita Latifi5Peter Walla6Peter Walla7Peter Walla8Andreas Fink9Human-Friedrich Unterrainer10Human-Friedrich Unterrainer11Human-Friedrich Unterrainer12Human-Friedrich Unterrainer13Human-Friedrich Unterrainer14Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaCenter for Integrative Addiction Research (CIAR), Grüner Kreis Association, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaComprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, AustriaFaculty of Psychology, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaFaculty of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaSchool of Psychology, Newcastle University, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, AustraliaInstitute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaInstitute of Psychology, University of Graz, Graz, AustriaCenter for Integrative Addiction Research (CIAR), Grüner Kreis Association, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, AustriaDepartment of Religious Studies, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria0Faculty of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, Vienna, AustriaBackgroundDisgust is a fundamental emotion linked to survival, but its classification as a primary emotion remains debated. This study develops and validates a questionnaire assessing disgust as a primary emotion and examines its relationship with personality traits and psychopathology.MethodsA total of 482 German speaking participants completed an online survey. The sample was split for a principal component analysis (N = 250) and confirmatory (N = 232) factor analyses. Correlations and hierarchical regressions tested associations with personality traits and psychiatric symptoms.ResultsInitial item reduction via PCA resulted in two alternative unidimensional models with eight and five Items. CFA confirmed excellent model fit for both versions (DISGUST-8: χ2 = 13.00, p = 0.88, df = 20, χ2/df = 0.65, RMSEA = 0.000 (90% CI: 0.000, 0.057), CFI = 1.000; NFI = 0.992, TLI = 1.006, SRMR = 0.042; DISGUST-5: χ2 = 0.893, p = 0.97, df = 5, χ2/df = 0.18, RMSEA = 0.000 (90% CI: 0.000, 0.092); CFI = 1.000; NFI = 0.999; TLI = 1.011; SRMR = 0.017). Internal consistency was high for both versions (DISGUST-8: α = 0.89; DISGUST-5: α = 0.88). Trait disgust correlated highest with neuroticism (rDISGUST-8 = 0.36; rDISGUST-5 = 0.36) and anxiety (rDISGUST-8 = 0.27; rDISGUST-5 = 0.28). Regression analysis confirmed disgust as a significant predictor of neuroticism (t(457) = 4.19, β = 0.12).DiscussionThe findings highlight disgust’s role in personality and psychopathology. The developed scale reliably measures disgust, demonstrating its association with neuroticism. Future research should explore cross-cultural validation and refine the scale’s clinical applicability.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1607506/fulldisgustprimary emotionspersonalitypsychopathologyscale developmentaffective neuroscience |
| spellingShingle | Tobias Herzl Jürgen Fuchshuber Jürgen Fuchshuber Jürgen Fuchshuber Sarah Straßnig Afrodita Latifi Peter Walla Peter Walla Peter Walla Andreas Fink Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer Human-Friedrich Unterrainer The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale Frontiers in Human Neuroscience disgust primary emotions personality psychopathology scale development affective neuroscience |
| title | The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale |
| title_full | The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale |
| title_fullStr | The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale |
| title_full_unstemmed | The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale |
| title_short | The development and initial findings of a DISGUST scale |
| title_sort | development and initial findings of a disgust scale |
| topic | disgust primary emotions personality psychopathology scale development affective neuroscience |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1607506/full |
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