Perfectionism, Body Dissatisfaction, and Bulimic Symptoms: The Intervening Role of Perceived Pressure to be Thin and Thin Ideal Internalization

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that perfectionism contributes to the development and maintenance of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Research adopting a multidimensional conceptualization of perfectionism has shown evaluative concerns (EC) perfectionism to be more strongly associated with ED pathology compared to personal standards (PS) perfectionism. However, less research has addressed the underlying mechanisms accounting for these relations. Based on the sociocultural theory, the aim of this study was to examine perceived pressure to be thin and thin ideal internalization as intervening variables through which PS and EC perfectionism could relate to body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms. A total of 559 adolescents (59% female; mean age = 13.9 years) participated in a three-wave longitudinal study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses showed that EC perfectionism and PS perfectionism were related differentially to the intervening variables, with EC perfectionism being primarily related to perceived pressure to be thin and with PS perfectionism being primarily related to thin ideal internalization. Further, whereas EC perfectionism was related to increases in bulimic symptoms both directly and indirectly, PS perfectionism was only indirectly related to body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms through the sociocultural variables.

Self-critical perfectionism and binge eating symptoms: A longitudinal test of the intervening role of psychological need frustration.

“…By examining need frustration as a global mechanism, we aimed to add to previous studies examining either other global (e.g., depressive symptoms; self-esteem; interpersonal discrepancy and esteem) (Sherry & Hall, 2009) or more specific mechanisms (e.g., thin ideal internalization and dietary restraint) (Boone et al, 2011) involved in the development of binge eating. Both the more global and the more specific approach are of value as they likely provide complementary information.…”

“…Further, longitudinal research in non-clinical samples indicated that SC perfectionism relates to increases in binge eating over time, providing evidence for the fact that SC perfectionism constitutes a vulnerability factor for the development of binge eating (Boone, Soenens, & Braet, 2011;Flett & Hewitt, 2005;Mackinnon et al, 2011;Mushquash & Sherry, 2013). A recent experimental study even showed that priming SC perfectionism increased the probability of engaging in binge eating during the 24 hours following the prime .…”

“…Indeed, why would SC perfectionism, as a relatively overcontrolled personality dimension involving rigidity and excessive conscientiousness, relate to more undercontrolled and impulsive symptoms such as binge eating? A few longitudinal studies to date have provided insight into this question (Boone et al, 2011;Mackinnon et al, 2011). For instance, Sherry and Hall (2009) tested a model in which SC perfectionism relates to changes in binge eating through the generation of interpersonal PERFECTIONISM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED FRUSTRATION 5 discrepancy, depressive affect, dietary restraint and low interpersonal esteem.…”

“…For instance, Sherry and Hall (2009) tested a model in which SC perfectionism relates to changes in binge eating through the generation of interpersonal PERFECTIONISM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED FRUSTRATION 5 discrepancy, depressive affect, dietary restraint and low interpersonal esteem. Drawing on the sociocultural model, Boone et al (2011) showed that SC perfectionism predicted increases in bulimic symptoms over a two year period through the adoption of the thin-ideal.…”

How perfectionism and ineffectiveness influence growth of eating disorder risk in young adolescent girls

“…While some longitudinal studies have found that perfectionism is related to increases in eating disorder symptoms over time (e.g., Boone, Soenens, & Braet, 2011;Mackinnon et al, 2011), other studies have failed to confirm these findings (e.g., Gustafsson, Edlund, Kjellin, & Norring, 2009;Vohs, Bardone, Joiner, Abramson, & Heatherton, 1999;Leon et al, 1999). It has been suggested that more complex multivariate models will be required to properly understand the postulated effect of perfectionism on risk for disordered eating (Stice, 2002;Bardone-Cone et al, 2007).…”