The Role of Attachment Orientation and Multidimensional Perfectionism on Disordered Eating
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Separate lines of research have consistently linked each of attachment orientation and perfectionism with eating disorder symptoms. However, less is known about whether relationships exist among these variables, and if so, whether there is a mechanism though which they together influence disordered eating behaviours and attitudes. In the current dissertation, I sought to explore just that. Specifically, across three studies, I investigated an interpersonal framework for the development and maintenance of disordered eating by examining whether multidimensional perfectionism (Hewitt & Flett, 1991) and self-esteem contingencies mediate the relationship between insecure attachment and disordered eating. Overall, the findings provide preliminary support for this. I found that, among a nonclinical sample, relationship contingent self-esteem and socially prescribed perfectionism partially mediate the relationship between attachment anxiety and disordered eating. Although dataset limitations precluded conclusive investigation with a clinical sample, post-hoc analysis seems to suggest that socially prescribed perfectionism may, too, serve as a mediator between attachment anxiety and eating disorder symptoms among such a population. Moreover, the unexpected finding that socially prescribed perfectionism—as opposed to self-oriented perfectionism—mediates the relationship between attachment avoidance and disordered eating emerged. In light of these results, I sought to further explore the relationships among attachment, disordered eating, and socially prescribed perfectionism by attempting to experimentally manipulate the latter variable among a nonclinical sample. I implemented an experimental design exposing half of the study participants to a web-based perfectionism intervention, and the other half to a web-based control intervention on study skills. The results of this experiment were inconclusive overall, but not altogether disheartening. Indeed, as hypothesized, there was a marginal finding that those who were high in both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance reported decreases in disordered eating over time; however, this was regardless of which web-based intervention they received. Nonetheless, that study participation appears to have promoted changes in disordered eating symptoms among the highest-risk group is promising and suggests that reinvestigation may be prudent.
Author: Pauline Leung
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3208145675