TY - JOUR

T1 - The revolting self

T2 - an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-disgust in females with depressive symptoms

AU - Powell, Philip A.

AU - Overton, Paul G.

AU - Simpson, Jane

PY - 2014/6

Y1 - 2014/6

N2 - ObjectiveSelf-focused disgust has been implicated in depression and other mental health problems. However, “self-disgust” as a psychological concept has never been properly defined and remains particularly enigmatic. A qualitative methodology was used to obtain an informed understanding of self-disgust.MethodNine female participants with clinically relevant depressive symptoms completed semistructured interviews about their understanding and experiences of self-disgust. These were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.ResultsFour superordinate themes emerged: (a) “The subjective experience of self-disgust” revealed how self-disgust was perceived as a consuming, visceral experience with trait and state components; (b) “Origins of the revolting self” covered antecedent factors and the role of others in the genesis of self-disgust; (c) “Consequences of self-disgust” included the psychological and behavioral results of a disgusting self; and (d) “Associated emotional states” described associations between self-disgust and other feeling states.ConclusionsThe current findings suggest self-disgust is a consuming negative psychological phenomenon, associated with depression, problems with eating, physical appearance, interpersonal relationships, and self-persecution. Implications for clinical practice and future research on the topic are discussed.

AB - ObjectiveSelf-focused disgust has been implicated in depression and other mental health problems. However, “self-disgust” as a psychological concept has never been properly defined and remains particularly enigmatic. A qualitative methodology was used to obtain an informed understanding of self-disgust.MethodNine female participants with clinically relevant depressive symptoms completed semistructured interviews about their understanding and experiences of self-disgust. These were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.ResultsFour superordinate themes emerged: (a) “The subjective experience of self-disgust” revealed how self-disgust was perceived as a consuming, visceral experience with trait and state components; (b) “Origins of the revolting self” covered antecedent factors and the role of others in the genesis of self-disgust; (c) “Consequences of self-disgust” included the psychological and behavioral results of a disgusting self; and (d) “Associated emotional states” described associations between self-disgust and other feeling states.ConclusionsThe current findings suggest self-disgust is a consuming negative psychological phenomenon, associated with depression, problems with eating, physical appearance, interpersonal relationships, and self-persecution. Implications for clinical practice and future research on the topic are discussed.

KW - depression

KW - disgust

KW - emotion

KW - interpretative phenomenological analysis

KW - qualitative

KW - self-disgust

U2 - 10.1002/jclp.22049

DO - 10.1002/jclp.22049

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24114769

VL - 70

SP - 562

EP - 578

JO - Journal of Clinical Psychology

JF - Journal of Clinical Psychology

SN - 0021-9762

IS - 6

ER -