Effects of perfectionism and exercise on disordered eating in college students
Persistent URL
Author(s)
Paulson, Lauren
Rutledge, Patricia C.
Date Issued
January 1, 2014
Abstract
Purpose
This study examined two dimensions of perfectionism (Standards and Discrepancy), two aspects of exercise (cardiovascular and strength), and the interaction of these variables as predictors of disordered eating in female and male college students.
Methods
Recruited participants (N = 314; n = 204 women) completed self-report measures of disordered eating (Eating Attitudes Test), perfectionism (Almost Perfect Scale-Revised; Standards and Discrepancy subscales), and exercise (strength and cardiovascular).
Results
Among women, there was a significant three-way interaction between the two dimensions of perfectionism (Standards and Discrepancy) and cardiovascular exercise. Also among women, there was a significant two-way interaction between the Standards dimension and strength exercise and between the Discrepancy dimension and strength exercise. There were no significant main effects or interactions among men.
Conclusions
We found some support for the hypotheses that adaptive perfectionism (higher Standards coupled with lower Discrepancy) is a protective factor for disordered eating and that maladaptive perfectionism (higher Standards coupled with higher Discrepancy) is a risk factor, although, only among women who engaged in lower, but not higher, levels of cardiovascular exercise. The findings also suggest that it may be beneficial to consider dimensions of perfectionism and exercise separately when studying disordered eating.
Journal
Eating Behaviors
Department
Psychology
Citation
Paulson, Lauren R. and Patricia C. Rutledge. "Effects of Perfectionism and Exercise on Disordered Eating in College Students." Eating Behaviors 15, no. 1 (January 2014): 116-119.
Publisher
Elsevier
Version of Article
Published article
Embargo
Not available to public
DOI
10.1016/j.eatbeh.2013.11.005
ISSN
1471-0153