Quality of Life among Youth with Misophonia: The Role of Internalizing Symptoms and Pessimism

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined quality of life (QoL) in youth with misophonia compared to a general US youth sample and how misophonia-related variables (severity, number of triggers, responses), internalizing/externalizing symptoms, age and gender were associated with QoL among youth with misophonia. One-hundred and two children and adolescents (Mage = 13.7 [2.5]) with impairing misophonia symptoms completed self-report measures and clinical interviews. A comparison to a general US youth sample was conducted by dividing participants with misophonia into two age groups (< or ≥ 14 years). Older youth with misophonia reported poorer QoL than youth from the general US population, while no statistically significant difference emerged for younger youth with misophonia. More internalizing symptoms, more pessimism, a greater number of misophonia triggers, and being older were significantly associated with poorer QoL among youth with misophonia, with each variable explaining unique variance. Hence, youth with misophonia – particularly adolescents – may have lower QoL compared to their peers, and internalizing symptoms and pessimism are most strongly correlated with poorer QoL. Future research should examine what contributes to poor QoL among youth with misophonia and their family members and potential remedies.