How specific are the relationships between eating disorder behaviors and perfectionism?

Jing Luo; Kelsie T Forbush; J. Austin Williamson; Kristian E Markon; Lauren O Pollack

doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.04.003

Back

How specific are the relationships between eating disorder behaviors and perfectionism?

Journal article

Peer reviewed

How specific are the relationships between eating disorder behaviors and perfectionism?

Jing Luo, Kelsie T Forbush, J. Austin Williamson, Kristian E Markon and Lauren O Pollack

Eating behaviors : an international journal, Vol.14(3), pp.291-294

08/2013

DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.04.003

PMCID: PMC3734381

PMID: 23910769

Files and links (1)

url

http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.04.003View

Open Access

Abstract

Perfectionism is associated with several mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. The goal of this study was to test the specificity of the associations between perfectionism facets and eating disorder behaviors, by examining whether neuroticism and conscientiousness mediated or moderated associations between these variables. Participants from a representative community sample (N=407; 47% female) completed questionnaires assessing perfectionism, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and eating disorder behaviors. Neuroticism partially mediated associations between binge eating, restraint, body dissatisfaction, and maladaptive perfectionism facets. Neuroticism did not mediate associations between restriction and achievement striving perfectionism facets. Conscientiousness did not mediate any associations between perfectionism facets and eating disorder behaviors, yet Doubts about Actions interacted with conscientiousness to predict body dissatisfaction. Results indicate that neuroticism is key for understanding general risk factors that lead to myriad internalizing disorders, whereas maladaptive perfectionism has limited usefulness as a specific risk factor for eating disorder behaviors. Nevertheless, there is a unique association between dietary restraint and achievement striving dimensions of perfectionism that cannot be explained by higher-order personality traits. •Neuroticism mediated most eating disorder and perfectionism associations.•Neuroticism did not mediate restriction and achievement striving perfectionism.•Conscientiousness did not mediate eating disorder and perfectionism associations.•Doubts about actions and conscientiousness moderated body dissatisfaction.

Neuroticism

Conscientiousness

Personality

Disordered eating

Perfectionism

Eating disorders

Details

Title: Subtitle: How specific are the relationships between eating disorder behaviors and perfectionism?
Creators: Jing Luo - University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, 603 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
Kelsie T Forbush - Purdue University, Psychological Sciences Building, 703 Third St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
J. Austin Williamson - University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall, E., Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Kristian E Markon - University of Iowa, 11 Seashore Hall, E., Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
Lauren O Pollack - University of Missouri, 5030 Cherry Street Room 113, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Eating behaviors : an international journal, Vol.14(3), pp.291-294
DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.04.003
PMID: 23910769
PMCID: PMC3734381
NLM abbreviation: Eat Behav
ISSN: 1471-0153
eISSN: 1873-7358
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Language: English
Date published: 08/2013
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9984083265802771

Metrics

23 Record Views

10 Times Cited - Web of Science