Toward A Conceptualization Of Emetophobia: Examining Intolerance Of Uncertainty As A Unique Predictor Of Symptoms

Emetophobia, a poorly understood disorder, is a specific phobia characterized by an irrational and persistent fear of oneself vomiting or others vomiting. Though research on the disorder is sparse, previous investigations have reported interference in social, occupational, and health domains in the lives of individuals with emetophobia (Lipsitz et al., 2001; McFayden & Wyness, 1983; Veale & Lambrou, 2006). To this end, the current study examined whether individual differences in Anxiety Sensitivity (AS), Disgust Sensitivity (DS), and Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) are associated with symptoms of emetophobia, whether AS predicts symptoms of emetophobia above and beyond DS, IU, and expected covariates of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and whether DS predicts symptoms of emetophobia above and beyond IU and expected covariates of anxiety and depressive symptoms. An archival data set from a larger study consisting of undergraduate volunteers (N = 193) was used in the analyses of the present study. Individuals completed a diagnostic interview and self-report measures. AS, DS, IU, anxiety, and depression were found to be significantly positively associated with symptoms of emetophobia. IU significantly predicted emetophobia symptoms above and beyond covariates of anxiety and depression. However, DS did not predict symptoms of emetophobia above and beyond IU and covariates of anxiety and depression, nor did AS predict symptoms of emetophobia above and beyond IU, DS, and covariates of anxiety and depression. The present findings demonstrate that emetophobia is indeed a distinct specific phobia with associated anxiety related cognitive vulnerabilities, thereby highlighting the need for further research for a comprehensive conceptualization emetophobia.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. in Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Zhao, Mimi

Contributors dc:contributor

• Alan M. Gross
• John Young
• Danielle J. Maack

• Anxiety
• Cognitive Vulnerabilities
• Emetophobia
• Intolerance Of Uncertainty
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/814

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-1813