Construction and preliminary validation of the Disgust Response Scale

Abstract

Although various types of self-report measures have been published to assess disgust propensity or sensitivity, no scale has yet been published to assess disgust response types, including physiological, cognitive, and behavioral components. The aim of the present study was to develop a new scale to assess this facet of disgust. The study was based on a sample of 913 participants from six Spanish-speaking countries, with an age range of 18 to 76 years (M = 32.08, SD = 11.43), 72.3% of whom were women. Based on exploratory factor analyses of a large set of disgust reactions, we obtained a three-factor structure representing the three dimensions of disgust response, i.e., the cognitive, behavioral, and physiological components. The final instrument was reduced to 15 items (5 for each response component) related to 10 prototypical disgust situations, including three separate disgust response subscales (i.e., Physiological, Cognitive and Behavioral). Consistent evidence is provided on the factor structure of the scale (three correlated factors), as well as on its reliability and validity (convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity). The clinical utility of the new scale is discussed, as well as its relevance in the field of disgust research.