Term of Award
Winter 2017
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Psychology
Committee Chair
Jeff Klibert
Committee Member 1
Thresa Yancey
Committee Member 2
Larry Locker
Abstract
Determining vulnerability factors to eating disorders is imperative due to the life-threatening nature associated with them. Perfectionism is noted as a precursor and maintaining factor in eating disorder pathology (Fairburn, Cooper, & Shafran, 2003). However, the link between perfectionism and eating disorder pathology may be better understood by investigating potential mediating variables. Examining motivational strategies for establishing self-esteem could provide beneficial information regarding these relationships (Johnson & Blom, 2007). The purpose of the current study was to explore the relations between perfectionistic self-presentation and features of eating disorder pathology via contingent self-esteem. Data were collected from 383 university undergraduate students who completed measures examining perfectionistic self-presentation, eating attitudes, body shape, social anxiety, and contingent self-esteem. Results indicate that perfectionistic self-presentation is directly related to eating disorder risk. Additionally, these variables are indirectly related to each other through relation-based self-esteem, but not competence-based self-esteem. Overall, these findings provide useful information in the treatment of eating disorder pathology through the enhancement of general self-esteem. By use of interventions involving self-compassion, individuals with eating disorder pathology may shift their focus from desiring approval of others and learn to accept themselves.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, K. M. (2016). Examining eating disorder pathology through the interpersonal expression of perfectionism and contingent self-esteem (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
