The relation of anger to disgust: the potential role of coupled emotions within eating pathology

difficulties with anger and disgust have been highlighted within females with eating pathology (FEP). However, research has not investigated whether FEP experience greater levels of anger compared to controls or how these two emotions may interact in FEP. It was predicted that FEP would show significantly higher levels of state anger and this would also lead to a significant increase in disgust for FEP.

the experimental group (n = 25) had significant levels of eating pathology. Data from the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 and a disgust measure was collected before and after the induction of an angry state.

the bulimic group, in comparison to normal controls, demonstrated a significant increase in the state anger scores at time 2 and on the Disgust Sensitivity Scale.

the findings demonstrate that the emotions of anger and disgust may be 'coupled', and disgust may be used to manage the 'egodystonic' emotion of anger in people with eating pathology.