OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to explore the relationship between alexithymia and maladaptive perfectionism in the psychological process leading to eating disorders (ED). METHOD: Forty-nine individuals with ED and 49 controls completed the Concern over Mistakes subscale of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perfectionism subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory, the total score of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory. We tested a model in which alexythimia is the independent variable and perfectionism is the possible mediator or moderator. RESULTS: Analyses confirmed the assumed model. In addition, it emerged that perfectionism played a mediating or moderating role when measured by different instruments. This result suggested that different instruments measured subtly different aspects of the same construct. DISCUSSION: Results could suggest that alexithymia is a predisposing factor for perfectionism, which in turn may lead to the development of eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to explore the relationship between alexithymia and maladaptive perfectionism in the psychological process leading to eating disorders (ED). METHOD: Forty-nine individuals with ED and 49 controls completed the Concern over Mistakes subscale of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perfectionism subscale of the Eating Disorders Inventory, the total score of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory. We tested a model in which alexythimia is the independent variable and perfectionism is the possible mediator or moderator. RESULTS: Analyses confirmed the assumed model. In addition, it emerged that perfectionism played a mediating or moderating role when measured by different instruments. This result suggested that different instruments measured subtly different aspects of the same construct. DISCUSSION: Results could suggest that alexithymia is a predisposing factor for perfectionism, which in turn may lead to the development of eating disorders.
Authors: Domenico De Berardis; Alessandro Carano; Francesco Gambi; Daniela Campanella; Paola Giannetti; Anna Ceci; Enrico Mancini; Raffaella La Rovere; Alessandra Cicconetti; Laura Penna; Danilo Di Matteo; Barbara Scorrano; Carla Cotellessa; Rosa Maria Salerno; Nicola Serroni; Filippo Maria Ferro Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2006-12-05
Authors: Sarah Bydlowski; Maurice Corcos; Philippe Jeammet; Sabrina Paterniti; Sylvie Berthoz; Catherine Laurier; Jean Chambry; Silla M Consoli Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Mario Speranza; Maurice Corcos; Gwenolé Loas; Philippe Stéphan; Olivier Guilbaud; Fernando Perez-Diaz; Jean-Luc Venisse; Paul Bizouard; Olivier Halfon; Martine Flament; Philippe Jeammet Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2005-06-15 Impact factor: 3.222