Autistic Traits in the General Population are Associated with Sensory Processing in Picky Eating

Abstract

The present study examined whether autistic traits are associated with fear of aggregates, novel foods, and sensory processing sensitivity. Two-hundred sixty-nine general adults responded to the Japanese version of the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ-J), the Food Neophobia Scale, the Trypophobia Questionnaire (TQ-J), and the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS-J19). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations among all scales, and partial correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the AQ-J and the HSPS-J19, and TQ-J. A model-based non-hierarchical cluster analysis on AQ-J subscale scores was classified into three clusters (high, middle, and low autistic traits groups). The high and middle autistic traits groups were higher than the low autistic traits group to have a fear of novelty food, a fear of holes, and high sensitivity in sensory processing. The results of this study suggest that we have to consider the distribution of sensory processing associated with autistic traits and picky eating when rethinking eating problems based on visual sensory processing.

Note:
Funding declaration: This research was supported by the Taikichiro Mori Memorial Research Grants for the Academic Years 2022 and 2023 and Keio Gijuku Academic Development Funds For Academic Years 2021 and 2023 (Joint Research).

Conflict of Interests: None.

Ethical Approval: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee established at the authors’ institution on July 12, 2022 (receipt number: 431). All procedures were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects. Participants provided informed consent and agreed to cooperate with the study before participating in the study.

Keywords: Picky eating, Autistic traits, Food neophobia, Trypophobia, Sensory processing sensitivity