Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) symptoms in gender diverse adults and their relation to autistic traits, ADHD traits, and sensory sensitivities.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is emerging evidence to suggest gender diverse people are overrepresented in avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) samples. However, the mechanisms underlying elevated risk for ARFID in this group are currently unknown. Gender diversity and neurodivergence commonly co-occur, with elevated sensory sensitivities reported to be a shared experience common across autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and ARFID. We aimed to examine the unique contribution of sensory sensitivities, including hypo- and hyper-sensitivity, in predicting ARFID symptoms in gender diverse adults, whilst controlling for autistic and ADHD traits.

Methods

Gender diverse adults (N = 182; 142 assigned female at birth; M age = 28.6 years) in the UK participated i

SUBMITTER: Thomas KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11834292 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature