Objectives: There are reports that vegetarians, due to the specificity of their diet, may be at risk of orthorexia nervosa (ON), although researchers' opinions are not consistent. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the motivation to use vegetarian diet and the personality traits as well as the tendency to ON.
Methods: The study group comprised 480 vegetarians aged 18-40 years (414 women) divided into 3 groups: G1 - semi-vegetarians (n=60), G2 - lacto-ovo-vegetarians, ovo-vegetarians, lacto-vegetarians (n=238) and G3 - vegans, raw foodists and fruitarians (n=182). The questionnaire determining the motivation for vegetarian diet, Neuroticism-ExtraversionOpenness - Five Factor Inventory Personality Inventory and Bratman Test of Orthorexia were used.
Results: No significant differences in the level of ON risk were observed between the groups. BMI was significantly lower in G3 than in G1 and G2. In G3 vegetarian diet was used for the longest time, and the highest level of ethical and health motivation to undertake this diet compared to the other respondents was seen (p<0.0001). The study revealed the lowest level of agreeableness in the G1. The neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness and ethical motivation to diet were positive predictors of ON, while agreeableness and experience with diet were its negative predictors (F=9.26, p<0.001, R2=0.12).
Conclusion: It is concluded that personality traits, type of motivation to undertake a vegetarian diet and diet duration are associated with the risk of ON in vegetarians.
Level of Evidence: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study