Sex differences and sex similarities in disgust sensitivity

• Published in: Personality and individual differences 2011-08, Vol.51 (3), p.343-348
• Main Authors: Tybur, Joshua M., Bryan, Angela D., Lieberman, Debra, Caldwell Hooper, Ann E., Merriman, Leslie A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Big Five; Biological and medical sciences; Disgust; Disgust Sensitivity; Emotions; Evolutionary Psychology; Factor structures; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gender differences; Individual Differences; Moral aspects; Neo Personality Inventory; Personality traits; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Sensitivity
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2011.04.003

► We test for sex differences in the constructs measured by the Three Domain Disgust Scale. ► We find that scale factor structure and factor loadings are invariant across the sexes. ► We find that correlations between scale factors and NEO PI-3 factors and facets are equivalent across the sexes. ► We find that mean sex differences in disgust sensitivity vary across scale factors. Across two studies, we test for sex differences in the factor structure, factor loadings, concurrent validity, and means of the Three Domain Disgust Scale. In Study 1, we find that the Three Domain Disgust Scale has indistinguishable factor structure and factor loadings for men and women. In Study 2, we find a small sex difference in sensitivity to pathogen and moral disgust and a large sex difference in sensitivity to sexual disgust, with women more sensitive to disgust across domains. However, correlations between Three Domain Disgust Scale factors and the five factors and 30 facets of the NEO Personality Inventory were indistinguishable between the sexes. These findings suggest that, despite mean sex differences in disgust sensitivity, the Three Domain Disgust Scale measures similar constructs in men and women. Implications for understanding the constructs measured by the Three Domain Disgust Scale are discussed.