Autistic traits mediate reductions in social attention in adults with anorexia nervosa

Objective

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is associated with difficulties in social and emotional functioning. A significant proportion of individuals with AN show autistic traits, which may influence social attention. This study examined attention to faces and facial features in AN, recovered AN (REC) and healthy controls, as well as relationships with comorbid psychopathology.

Method

One hundred and forty-eight participants' eye movements were tracked while watching a naturalistic social scene. Anxiety, depression, alexithymia and autistic traits were assessed via self-report questionnaires. 

Results

Participants with AN spent significantly less time looking at faces compared to REC and controls; patterns of attention to individual facial features did not differ across groups. Autistic traits mediated the relationship between group and time spent looking at faces.  

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the importance of psychopathology, and specifically Autistic traits in social attention in individuals with AN. Our results suggest that reduced social attention in AN may be a result of high ASD traits.