Are perfectionistic concerns an antecedent of or a consequence of binge eating, or both? A short-term four-wave longitudinal study of undergraduate women

Abstract

The perfectionism model of binge eating (PMOBE) posits perfectionistic concerns are a vulnerability factor for binge eating. And evidence indicates perfectionistic concerns and binge eating correlate positively. Yet the direction of this relationship is unclear. In particular, it is unclear if perfectionistic concerns represent an antecedent of binge eating (a vulnerability effect with perfectionistic concerns predicting increases in binge eating), a consequence of binge eating (a complication effect with binge eating predicting increases in perfectionistic concerns), or both (reciprocal relations with perfectionistic concerns predicting increases in binge eating and vice versa). To address these questions, we studied 200 undergraduate women using a 4-week, 4-wave cross-lagged design. Consistent with the PMOBE, perfectionistic concerns predicted increased binge eating (vulnerability effect). Conversely, binge eating did not predict increased perfectionistic concerns (complication effect). Findings support the long-held theory that perfectionistic concerns are part of the premorbid personality of women vulnerable to binge eating.

Perfectionism Predicts Disordered Gambling Via Financially Focused Self-Concept

“…Although these two aspects of clinical perfectionism conceptually correspond to the two higher order perfectionism constructs of personal standards and evaluative concerns, respectively (e.g., Dunkley et al, 2006;Stoeber & Damian, 2014), Shafran and colleagues (2002) conceptualized clinical perfectionism as a unidimensional construct. We contend that, akin to the notion that perfectionism is a single general factor (e.g., Egan et al, 2016;Smith & Saklofske, 2017), clinical perfectionism is best understood as a single factor that reflects an overreaching desire to meet high standards and self-criticism in response to failing to meet those standards.…”

“…More recently, though, evidence has emerged in favour of the unidimensional camp. Specifically, Smith and Saklofske (2017) showed that these higher order dimensions reflect a single general perfectionism factor. In the current paper, for parsimony, we adhere to Smith and Saklofske's understanding of perfectionism as a single general factor.…”

A Social Clinical Perspective on Perfectionism in Disordered Eating Behaviour

“…Longitudinal research also supports the links with bulimic (Kehayes, Smith, Sherry, Vidovic & Saklofske, 2019) and binge eating behaviours (Smith et al, 2017). Recent research has indicated that perfectionism may mediate the link between other antecedents to disordered eating, such as social interaction anxiety (Menatti, Weeks, Levinson, & McGowan, 2013), rumination (Riviere & Douilliez, 2017), and social appearance anxiety .…”

“…By contrast, while Hewitt and Flett (1991) directly link with eating disorder symptoms in cross-sectional analyses (Hewitt et al, 1995) and longitudinal analyses (Smith et al, 2017;Soares, Macedo, et al, 2009), the evidence for…”

“…Multiple studies have indicated that the combination of these personal standards (commonly referred to as Self-Oriented Perfectionism) and beliefs about what others expect of an individual (referred to as Socially Prescribed Perfectionism, or SPP) are unique predictors of the thin ideal internalisation, or internalisation of unhealthy body image standards in young women (Tissot & Crowther, 2008). In turn, this puts the individual at risk of developing disordered eating tendencies (Smith et al, 2017).…”