Introduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which has a high comorbidity rate with other psychological concerns, including disordered eating. For instance, people with ADHD are at a 3.8 times increased risk for an eating disorder, and people with an eating disorder had 2.6 times increased risk for ADHD. Interoceptive ability refers to one’s ability to perceive their body’s own internal physical sensations; deficits in this ability have been found in ADHD and disordered eating populations, though the literature is mixed (Kaisari et al. 2018; Nazar et al., 2016; Ziobrowski et al., 2018). The present study examined interoceptive deficits as a moderating factor between the relationship of ADHD and restrictive eating behaviors, we expected the relationship between ADHD and restriction to be stronger when interoceptive dysfunction was high vs. low. Methods: Participants were 357 undergraduates who completed an online survey that included measures the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS), the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI), and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Version 2 (MAIA-2) (Mage = 19.39; 70.1% female; 75.3% White). A moderation analysis was conducted in SPSS using PROCESS model 1 to determine if interoceptive deficits strengthen the relationship between ADHD and restrictive eating. Results: Positive correlations were found between ADHD and eating pathology, including restriction, excessive exercise and purging. However, interoception did not moderate the relation between ADHD symptoms and restriction (Index = .04, p = .38, ß = -.02 95% CI [-.07, .03]). Conclusions: While ADHD and eating restriction are positively related to one another, interoceptive deficits did not strengthen the relationship in our sample of college students. Future work should continue to examine potential moderators in order to identify treatment targets for these impairing conditions.
Author: Abby Tietjen
Advisor: April Smith, PhD, Psychology
Graduate Advisor: Shelby Ortiz, M.A., Psychology
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