Self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism in the Eating Disorder Inventory Perfectionism subscale

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders 2004-01, Vol.35 (1), p.69-79
• Main Authors: Sherry, Simon B., Hewitt, Paul L., Besser, Avi, McGee, Brandy J., Flett, Gordon L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Eating Disorder Inventory; Eating disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders - diagnosis; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Personality; Personality traits; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reproducibility of Results; Self Concept; self-oriented perfectionism; Social Behavior; Social Desirability; socially prescribed perfectionsim; Surveys and Questionnaires; Techniques and methods
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.10237

Objective The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the existence and the importance of the distinction between self‐oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism in the Eating Disorder Inventory Perfectionism subscale (EDI‐P). Method Trait perfectionism, measured by the EDI‐P, and eating disorder symptoms, measured by the 26‐item Eating Attitudes Test, were examined in 220 university students (110 women and 110 men) belonging to a campus‐based fitness facility. Results Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that, for both genders, the EDI‐P is best represented by a multidimensional factor structure with three self‐oriented perfectionism items (EDI‐SOP) and three socially prescribed perfectionism items (EDI‐SPP). Structural equation modeling demonstrated that, for both genders, EDI‐SOP and EDI‐SPP are related independently to eating disorder symptoms. Moderational analysis indicated that, for women, the impact of EDI‐SOP on eating disorder symptoms is dependent on the level of EDI‐SPP. Discussion It is suggested that future research should acknowledge the empirical and theoretical implications of having EDI‐SOP and EDI‐SPP in the EDI‐P. It is cautioned that EDI‐SOP and EDI‐SPP are a partial representation of an already published multidimensional model of trait perfectionism. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 35: 69–79, 2004.