Eating disorders, perfectionism and quality of life: Maladaptive perfectionism as a mediator between symptoms of disordered eating and quality of life

Rutter-Eley, E., James, M. K. and Jenkins, P. E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1673-2903 (2020) Eating disorders, perfectionism and quality of life: Maladaptive perfectionism as a mediator between symptoms of disordered eating and quality of life. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 208 (10). pp. 771-776. ISSN 0022-3018 doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001241

Abstract/Summary

Individuals with disordered eating behaviours exhibit significantly impaired quality of life (QoL). Maladaptive perfectionism is consistently associated with both eating disorders (EDs) and QoL, but its role in the relationship between eating pathology and QoL has remained largely unexplored. The current study investigated whether maladaptive perfectionism mediates the ED–QoL relationship. 286 university students completed an online survey which consisted of self-report questionnaires assessing ED symptomology, QoL, maladaptive perfectionism, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Maladaptive perfectionism mediated the relationship between ED symptomology and QoL, but this effect did not persist when body mass index, depression, and anxiety were controlled for. The results suggest the mediatory effect of maladaptive perfectionism is masked by depression and anxiety symptomology. Recommendations for further research are proposed to clarify the role of maladaptive perfectionism in the ED–QoL relationship, and to explore the mediatory role of depression and anxiety in this relationship.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/92220
Identification Number/DOI	10.1097/NMD.0000000000001241
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Department of Psychology Life Sciences > School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences > Psychopathology and Affective Neuroscience
Publisher	Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
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