Abstract

What is the reality of the misophonic experience in the general population?

This is a study on misophonia in a large sample, representative of the UK general population.

The study utilises a multidimensional psychometric tool, the S-Five, to study the intensity of the triggering misophonic sounds in everyday activities, the emotions/feelings related to them, and the norms of the key components of the misophonic experience: internalising and externalising appraisals, perceived threat and avoidance behaviours, outbursts, and the impact on functioning.

Based on the S-Five scores and a semi-structured interview delivered by clinicians who specialise in misophonia, the estimated prevalence of people for whom symptoms of misophonia cause a significant burden in their life in the UK was estimated to be 18%.

The psychometric properties of the S-Five in the UK general population were also evaluated and differences across gender and age were explored.

Our results show that the five-factor structure is reproduced, and that the S-Five is a reliable and valid scale for the measurement of the severity of the misophonic experience in the general UK population.

Citations

Vitoratou S, Hayes C, Uglik-Marucha N, Pearson O, Graham T, Gregory J (2023) Misophonia in the UK: Prevalence and norms from the S-Five in a UK representative sample. PLoS ONE 18(3): e0282777.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0282777

URI: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/orka/title/misophonia-in-the-uk-prevalence-and-norms-from-the-s-five-in-a-uk-representative-sample/