Too strict or too loose? Perfectionism and impulsivity: The relation with eating disorder symptoms using a person-centered approach

Abstract

Although both perfectionism (i.e. personal standards perfectionism and evaluative concerns perfectionism) and impulsivity have been shown to be implicated in eating disorders, no previous studies have examined the interplay between both personality dimensions in their association with eating disorder symptoms. This is the first study to investigate relationships between empirically derived personality subtypes based on perfectionism and impulsivity and eating disorder symptoms (i.e., dietary restraint, and concerns over eating, weight and shape). Cluster analysis was used to establish naturally occurring combinations of perfectionism and impulsivity in adolescent boys and girls (N = 460; M age = 14.2 years, SD = 0.90). Evidence was obtained for four personality profiles: (1) a resilient subtype (low on perfectionism and impulsivity), (2) pure impulsivity subtype (high on impulsivity only), (3) pure perfectionism subtype (high on perfectionism only), and (4) combined perfectionism/impulsivity subtype (high on both perfectionism and impulsivity). Participants in these four clusters showed differences in terms of eating disorder symptoms in that participants with a combination of high perfectionism and high impulsivity (rather than the presence of one of these two characteristics alone) had the highest levels of ED symptoms. These findings shed new light on extant theories concerning ED.

The relationship between perfectionism and discounting measures

“…In Boone et al (2014) adolescents completed a subset of questions from the FMPS and the I-7 impulsiveness questionnaire (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1978). Results indicated a significant positive correlation between self-reported impulsivity and an evaluative concerns perfectionism subscale (combination of 'Concern over Mistakes' and 'Doubts about Actions' subscales).…”

“…Only two previous studies have examined the relationship between perfectionism and impulsivity (Boone, Claes, & Luyten, 2014;Slof-Op't Landt, Claes, & van Furth, 2016). In Boone et al (2014) adolescents completed a subset of questions from the FMPS and the I-7 impulsiveness questionnaire (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1978).…”

Assessing the roles of impulsivity, food-related cognitions, BMI, and demographics in the dual pathway model of binge eating among men and women

“…Additionally, impulsivity is related to correlates of binge eating including weight and shape concerns (Boone, Claes, & Luyten, 2014), dietary restraint (van Koningsbruggen, Stroebe, & Aarts, 2013), and negative affect (Cosi, Hernández-Martínez, Canals, & Vigil-Colet, 2011). Although previous research documents the association between impulsivity and maladaptive eating behaviors, the role of impulsivity in the dual pathway model of binge eating merits further investigation.…”

Binge Eating Disorder In Adolescence: The Role Of Alexithymia And Impulsivity

“…The authors that have investigated impulsivity in eating disorder have found conflicting results. Although there are evidences that patients with binge eating behaviors had higher scores on impulsivity (Boone, Claes, & Luyten, 2014), these studies did not take into account patients diagnosed for BED, but subjects with binge eating behaviors. Furthermore, these studies did not clarify what role is played by impulsivity in the onset of binge eating behaviors.…”