Preprint of Repeated Exposure to Body-Related Memories in Women with High Body-Related Self-Disgust: Impact on Disgust, Avoidance, and Acceptance

Disgust-based body image concerns can bias autobiographical memory towards the recall and avoidant processing of disgust-related memories of the own body. Repeated exposure to such memories may help breaking avoidance and promote the habituation of disgust, thereby lowering body concerns. Using a within-participant experimental design, we tested if repeatedly exposing women with high self-disgust (N = 61) to disgust-focused body-related memories vs. neutral memories led to changes in disgust, body acceptance, and reactive avoidance. Disgust towards the body itself only decreased following neutral exposure. Disgust elicited by the body-related memories also decreased following repeated disgust exposure trials. In the disgust exposure session, stronger habitual prevention of body-related disgust was associated with higher disgust elicited by the memories, whereas reactive avoidance increased from pre to post exposure. Pre-post decreases in state disgust in the disgust exposure session were associated with increases in acceptance. Results regarding the disgust exposure session point to the potency of repeated exposure to disgust-eliciting memories as a means to promote the habituation of disgust and formation of positive body appraisals. The tenacity of disgust-driven avoidance highlights the importance of effective response prevention.