The Role of Distinct Facets of Perfectionism and Sociocultural Idealization of Thinness on Disordered Eating Symptoms

Abstract

Introduction: Perfectionism is a multidimensional personality style implicated in risk for disordered eating (DE), yet the types of perfectionism most predictive of DE and how perfectionistic tendencies lead to the development of DE remains less clear. This study aimed to determine the types of perfectionism most strongly associated with DE and whether perceived pressures for thinness and thin-ideal internalization serve as intervening variables that explain associations between perfectionism and DE.Methods: An ethnically diverse sample of female college students (n = 154–292) completed well-validated self-report questionnaires assessing overall DE symptoms, perfectionism, and two sociocultural factors: pressures for thinness and thin-ideal internalization.Results: Only perfectionism constructs encompassed under the “maladaptive evaluative concerns” domain were significantly associated with DE. Double mediation models indicated that heightened pressures for thinness and thin-ideal internalization fully mediate perfectionism-DE associations.Discussion: Results suggest that disorder-specific risk factors related to idealization of thinness may be important for understanding how a transdiagnostic factor, like perfectionism, results in DE.