What components of perfectionism predict drive for thinness?

Risk and resilience in eating disorders: differentiating pathways among psychosocial predictors

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders (EDs) represent a rising global health concern. The current study takes a multivariate approach to examine psychological (i.e., perfectionism, anxiety sensitivity [AS], emotion dysregulation) and sociocultural factors (i.e., body dissatisfaction) that may relate to risk and resilience in EDs.

METHODS

Participants were 698 undergraduate students (Mage = 21, SDage = 4.02), mainly female (71%) and Hispanic (61.6%), who participated in an online survey assessing perfectionism, emotion dysregulation, AS, body dissatisfaction, and eating behaviors.

RESULTS

The results from structural equation model analyses revealed differential associations with disordered eating (DE) outcomes. Self-oriented perfectionism and dysmorphic appearance concerns were associated with increased dieting/carb restriction, desire for thinness, and binging tendencies. Specifically, emotional nonacceptance and lack of emotional awareness showed associations with elevated risk for dieting/carb restriction and purging tendencies, respectively. Conversely, lack of emotional clarity showed a protective pathway to these risk behaviors. Anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns related to higher purging tendencies, while AS social concerns related to lower purging and binging tendencies.

DISCUSSION

Findings highlight the differential pathways of psychosocial risk and resilience for EDs. Subscales of emotional dysregulation and AS showed risk as well as resilience associations with DE outcomes. This information is key for advancing transdiagnostic prevention and intervention to reduce the rising rates of EDs.

The Association between Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Perfectionism in Adolescence: The Role of Mental Disorders

Previous evidence has drawn attention to the fact that maladaptive perfectionism is a risk factor for engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Until now, few studies have examined this topic, especially among community adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perfectionism dimensions and NSSI functions to examine the potential mediating effect of mental disorders. Altogether, 146 Hungarian community adolescents (ages 13-18 years) were involved. All participants completed the Hungarian adaptation of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS), the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Kid. To analyse the interrelationships among NSSI, perfectionism, and mental disorders, we conducted regression and network analysis. Of the 146 adolescents, 90 (61.64%, girls: 71.11%) engaged in NSSI. The Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Action scales of the FMPS significantly and positively predicted both NSSI intrapersonal and interpersonal motivation, with comparable effect sizes, and this association was fully mediated by anxiety disorders. There was a significant direct negative relationship between the FMPS Organisation dimension and both main NSSI functions. This study draws attention to an increasing trend and the extremely high NSSI prevalence rate among community adolescents. Adolescents with perfectionistic concerns are at heightened risk for anxiety disorders, which can increase their vulnerability to NSSI engagement.

A mixed methods study of an online intervention to reduce perfectionism

Perfectionism is linked to a variety of mental health conditions in university students. Guided by the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model, the purpose of the current mixed methods feasibility study was to evaluate the acceptability and potential effectiveness of a brief online intervention designed to reduce the negative consequences of perfectionism in university students. Seventy university students (83.9% female; M age  = 19) reporting moderate to extreme levels of perfectionism completed the two hour 'Intentional Imperfection Program' (IIP). The IIP includes techniques to increase mindfulness, compassion for self and others, distress tolerance, and social skills. Participants completed self-report measures at baseline and at a two-week follow-up. Quantitative data showed statistically significant small to moderate reductions in self-oriented perfectionism (d = -0.48, p < .001), socially-prescribed perfectionism (d = 0.40, p < .001), hostility (r = 0.53, p < .001), rejection sensitivity (d = 0.37, p < .001), depression (r = -0.47, p < .001), and anxiety (r = -0.33, p = .010) and a small increase in perceived social support (r = -0.29, p = .023). Thematic analyses of qualitative data indicated that participants found the IIP feasible, enjoyable, and useful. A brief online intervention may be a feasible way of reducing the negative consequences of perfectionism among university students. A randomised control trial is warranted to further evaluate the efficacy of the IIP. This research was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no. ACTRN12620000574943).

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Perfectionism: A Systematic Review

Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and perfectionism mean a huge concern related to mental health and psychopathology. Recently, there has been a growing interest in research on the exploration of the association of perfectionism and NSSI, but till today there is no systematic review has been prepared in this topic. Aims: Therefore, we performed a systematic literature review of published studies that investigated the association between NSSI and perfectionism. Methods: The systematic search was made on PubMed, OVID Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search terms were ("nonsuicidal self-injury" OR "nonsuicidal self-injury" OR NSSI OR "self-injury" OR "self-injurious behavior" OR SIB OR "self-harm" OR "deliberate self-harm" OR DSH) AND (perfectionism). The inclusion criteria were as follows: written in English; reported empirical data; used validated self-report measures; investigated the association of nonsuicidal self-injury and perfectionism. There were no restrictions on participants regarding age, gender, race or ethnicity. Exclusion criteria: not written in English; was a review/meta-analysis; measured suicide behavior; measured self-injury irrespective of motivation or suicidal intent; was not about the association between nonsuicidal self-injury and perfectionism. Results: After the screening process, 15 studies were included in our systematic review. The majority of studies (12) were published in the last 10 years. Nine (60%) recruited participants from community samples, four (26.7%) from clinical populations, and two (13.3%) both from community and clinical participants. Fourteen (93.3%) of the studies were cross-sectional studies, and one study contained a longitudinal investigation. The majority of studies included only or mainly female participants (62.3-87.2%) and two studies contained a balanced male-female ratio population. Fourteen (93.3%) studies from the 15 studies found a significant positive association between NSSI and perfectionism. Limitations: The heterogeneity of used instruments makes it difficult to compare the results of involved studies. Only two studies investigated populations with balanced gender ratios. Only two studies examined both clinical and community populations. Clinical investigations enrolled mainly eating-disordered (ED) patients. Conclusions: The results of the current systematic review highlight the role of perfectionism in NSSI engagement. This systematic review may help the development of effective prevention initiatives and treatment strategies.

Transdiagnostic vulnerability factors in eating disorders: A network analysis

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorder (ED) symptoms and transdiagnostic vulnerability characteristics play a crucial role in the aetiology and maintenance of EDs. Over the last decade, researchers have started to model complex interrelations between symptoms using network models, but the literature is limited in that it has focused solely on symptoms and investigated-specific disorders while ignoring transdiagnostic aspects of mental health.

METHOD

This study tackles these challenges by investigating network relations among core ED symptoms, comorbid clinical symptoms (depression and anxiety) and empirically supported vulnerability and protective mechanisms (personality traits, maladaptive cognitive schemata, perfectionism and resilience) in a sample of 2302 treatment-seeking ED patients. We estimated a regularized partial correlation network to obtain conditional dependence relations among all variables. We estimated node centrality (interconnectivity) and node predictability (the overall magnitude of symptom inter-relationships).

RESULTS

The findings indicate a central role of overvigilance, excessive focus on inhibiting emotions and feelings, interoceptive awareness and perfectionism.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that excessive control of bodily aspects by dietary restraint (possibly through inhibition) and interoceptive awareness may be important constructs that warrant future research in understanding vulnerability in EDs. We provide all code and data via the Open Science Framework.

Racial and ethnic differences in the association between parent-oriented perfectionism and disordered eating in college women

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the associations between parent-oriented dimensions of perfectionism (parental expectations [PE] and parental criticism [PC]) and eating disorder (ED) symptomatology across racial/ethnic groups. It was hypothesized that parent-oriented perfectionism would be positively associated with ED symptomatology for White and Asian American women.

METHOD

Undergraduate women (N = 1,173) completed questionnaires assessing perfectionism, EDs, and demographics. One-way analyses of variance tested differences in PE and PC across racial/ethnic groups; post-hoc Tukey tests probed significant differences. Multiple linear regressions assessed associations between parent-oriented perfectionism and ED symptomatology. Hurdle models tested the association between PE and PC and the frequency and odds of endorsing ED symptomatology.

RESULTS

There were significant group differences in PE and PC. PE was positively linked with various ED symptoms in Latina, Asian American, and multiracial women, and was negatively related to purging in multiracial women. PC was positively associated with body dissatisfaction in White, Black, and multiracial women, but displayed differential associations with ED symptomatology in all racial/ethnic groups.

DISCUSSION

Levels of parent-oriented dimensions of perfectionism, and their relations to ED symptomatology, might vary across racial/ethnic groups. PE, in particular, is both more elevated, and more strongly linked to eating pathology in Asian American women, whereas PC appears to be especially relevant to ED symptoms in Black women. Findings underscore the importance of considering the role of culture in ED symptomatology. Clinicians and researchers might consider incorporating assessments of parent-oriented perfectionism into their practice.

Investigating transdiagnostic factors in eating disorders: Does self-esteem moderate the relationship between perfectionism and eating disorder symptoms?

OBJECTIVE

According to Fairburns transdiagnostic model of eating disorders (EDs), high levels of perfectionism and low self-esteem are two core traits across EDs. This study investigates the role of self-esteem as a transdiagnostic moderator of the relationship between perfectionism and ED symptoms across EDs.

METHOD

A large group of patients (n = 732) completed several questionnaires measuring perfectionism, self-esteem, and disordered eating symptomatology, more specifically, drive for thinness (DFT) and body dissatisfaction (BD).

RESULTS

Across EDs, self-esteem served as a moderator for the association between perfectionism and DFT. However, by testing the model for DFT in each ED separately, the effect only remained in patients with anorexia nervosa and ED not otherwise specified. When testing the model for BD, no moderation effect was found in any of the included EDs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that the interaction between perfectionism and self-esteem on DFT can be seen as transdiagnostic, although this effect is not found in each ED separately. These results suggest that ED treatment should consider to not only focus on transdiagnostic factors but also look at the specific impairments of each individual ED.

Psychological predictors of body image attitudes and concerns in young children

We aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between psychological characteristics, body size, and body image outcomes in 6- to 7-year-old children. Participants were 202 children (91 boys, 111 girls) assessed when 6 and 7 years old. Body image-related variables, body mass index, and psychological characteristics were assessed. Cross-sectionally in the total sample, lower self-esteem was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, internalization of appearance ideals, and rewards of muscularity. Greater perfectionism was associated with greater body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, drive for muscularity, and rewards of thinness and muscularity. Prospectively, internalization and socially prescribed perfectionism at 6 predicted greater body dissatisfaction at 7; higher perfectionism predicted greater rewards of thinness; higher perfectionism and lower self-esteem predicted greater rewards of muscularity; and lower self-esteem and smaller perceived body size predicted higher internalization. Exploratory gender specific analyses suggest that self-esteem may play a greater role in the development of body image attitudes in girls than boys, while perfectionism appears to increase boys' vulnerability to perceive greater rewards from thinness. Findings support the inclusion of psychological characteristics in etiological models of early body image development, and highlight perfectionism, internalization of appearance ideals, and self-esteem as potential targets for preventative interventions in this age group.

Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Disorder Symptomatology: A Latent Structural Equation Modeling Analysis of Moderating Variables in 18-to-28-Year-Old Males

Although body dissatisfaction is recognized as the strongest risk factor for eating disturbances, a majority of young males are body dissatisfied, but do not concomitantly report severe levels of eating disorder symptomatology. The present investigation was designed to examine five theoretically relevant variables (i.e., body checking, emotional dysregulation, perfectionism, insecure-anxious attachment, and self-esteem) as potential moderators of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and two critical components of male eating disorder symptomatology: drive for muscularity and bulimic behaviors. Data collected from 551 Italian males between 18 and 28 years old were analyzed using latent structural equation modeling. The authors found that emotional dysregulation, body checking, insecure-anxious attachment and perfectionism intensified the relationship between body dissatisfaction and each criterion variable representing male eating disorder symptomatology; the interactions accounted respectively for an additional 2%, 7%, 4% and 5% of variance in drive for muscularity and for an additional 6%, 4%, 5%, and 2% of the variance in bulimic behaviors. By contrast self-esteem weakened this relationship and the interactions accounted for an additional 3% of the variance in both drive for muscularity and bulimic behaviors. Implications of these findings for prevention and treatment of male eating disturbances are discussed.