Purpose: Numerous studies have found perfectionism to show positive relations with eating disorder symptoms, but so far no study has examined whether perfectionistic self-presentation can explain these relations or whether the relations are the same for different eating disorder symptom groups.
Methods: A sample of 393 female university students completed self-report measures of perfectionism (self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism), perfectionistic self-presentation (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, nondisclosure of imperfection), and three eating disorder symptom groups (dieting, bulimia, oral control). In addition, students reported their weight and height so that their body mass index (BMI) could be computed.
Results: Results of multiple regression analyses controlling for BMI indicated that socially prescribed perfectionism positively predicted all three symptom groups, whereas self-oriented perfectionism positively predicted dieting only. Moreover, perfectionistic self-presentation explained the positive relations that perfectionism showed with dieting and oral control, but not with bulimia. Further analyses indicated that all three aspects of perfectionistic self-presentation positively predicted dieting, whereas only nondisclosure of imperfection positively predicted bulimia and oral control. Overall, perfectionistic self-presentation explained 10.4-23.5 % of variance in eating disorder symptoms, whereas perfectionism explained 7.9-12.1 %.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that perfectionistic self-presentation explains why perfectionistic women show higher levels of eating disorder symptoms, particularly dieting. Thus, perfectionistic self-presentation appears to play a central role in the relations of perfectionism and disordered eating and may warrant closer attention in theory, research, and treatment of eating and weight disorders.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40519-016-0297-1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
The relationship between the Dark Triad and academic burnout mediated by perfectionistic self-presentation.
Acta Psychol (Amst)
October 2024
Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands. Electronic address:
Individuals with dark personality traits are more prone to burnout, but this was not yet investigated in academia. Perfectionistic self-presentation (PSPS), an interpersonal expression of perfectionism, could be an explaining factor. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the dark triad (Machiavellianism, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, and psychopathy) and academic burnout, and whether the PSPS total score and its dimensions (perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection) mediates this.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPerfectionism, Self-Image Goals and Compassionate Goals in Health and Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis.
J Psychoeduc Assess
September 2024
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
This research focuses on ego-focused self-image goals as central to understanding the vulnerability inherent in perfectionism and the link that perfectionism has with poorer health and emotional well-being. The present study expands theory and research on perfectionism from a unique motivational perspective through a longitudinal investigation of perfectionism, the pursuit of self-image goals related to self-improvement, and mental and physical health among 187 university students. Our central finding was that trait and self-presentational perfectionism were associated longitudinally with self-image goals and poorer mental and physical health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Social Comparison Rumination Scale: Development, Psychometric Properties, and Associations With Perfectionism, Narcissism, Burnout, and Distress.
J Psychoeduc Assess
September 2024
York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
In the current article, we describe the development and validation of the Social Comparison Rumination Scale. This measured was developed as a supplement to existing social comparison measures and to enable us to determine its potential relevance to perfectionism and other personality constructs. The Social Comparison Rumination Scale (SCRS) is a six-item inventory assessing the extent to which an individual is cognitively preoccupied and thinking repetitively about social comparison outcomes and information.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessing and Evaluating the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model: Social Support, Loneliness, and Distress Among Undergraduate, Law, and Medical Students.
J Psychoeduc Assess
September 2024
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The current research evaluates the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) by considering the links between measures of trait perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation and measures of social support, loneliness, and distress in cross-sectional research. A particular focus is on perfectionism and levels of social support as assessed by the Social Provisions Scale. The current study also uniquely evaluates levels of perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation in undergraduate students, medical students, and law students.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndividual differences in the impostor phenomenon and its relevance in higher education in terms of burnout, generalized anxiety, and fear of failure.
Acta Psychol (Amst)
September 2024
Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, the Netherlands. Electronic address:
Few theoretical and empirical works have described impostor phenomenon (IP) and no study explored impostorism from a dark perspective. We adopted a person-centered approach to identify clusters of impostors based on scores on the IP, perfectionistic self-presentation and the Dark Triad using a sample of 306 university students (M = 22.82).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!