Eating disorder symptoms: association with perfectionism traits in male adolescents

Abstract

Background: Evidence indicates a relationship between perfectionism and eating disorder symptoms (EDS). However, there is no such empirical evidence in Brazilian scientific literature. Moreover, studies of EDS in the male sex are scarce. Objective: To analyze a possible association between EDS and perfectionism traits in adolescent males. Methods: Participants were 368 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years. We used the subscales of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale to assess EDS and perfectionism traits, respectively. Results: The results indicated a statistically significant association between the high perfectionism trait and EDS (X 2 = 16.40; Wald = 15.92; p = 0.001). Moreover, the findings showed no difference in the scores of the Diet (F (1, 367) = 2.14; p = 0.23) or Concern for Food and Bulimia (F (1, 367) = 2.44; p = 0.19) subscales according to groups of perfectionism. However, we identified a higher score on the Oral Self-Control subscale of the EAT-26 in the group with high perfectionism trait than adolescents with a low perfectionism trait (F (1, 367) = 13.88; p = 0.02). Discussion: EDS were associated with perfectionism in adolescent males.

Autoestima, insatisfação corporal e internalização do ideal de magreza influenciam os comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares?

“…Concernente à prevalência dos comportamentos de risco para TA, esse achado está dentro dos valores encontrados em pesquisas nacionais que empregaram o mesmo instrumento. Alves et al 7 , Scherer et al 8 Fortes et al 10,20,21 , Martins et al 12 , relataram, em amostras de adolescentes do sexo feminino, frequência de comportamentos de risco para TA de aproximadamente 20%. Os pesquisadores têm justificado tais valores, pois parece que o sexo feminino tem enaltecido a aparência física direcionada para o baixo peso, o que pode ter consequências nos comportamentos de risco para TA 11,16 .…”