Does Shame Amplify the Relations Between Perfectionism and Eating Disorder Symptoms? Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Tests
| dc.contributor.author | Patarinski, Anna Gabrielle G. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeechair | Davis, Heather A. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Brem, Meagan J. | en |
| dc.contributor.committeemember | Breaux, Rosanna | en |
| dc.contributor.department | Psychology | en |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-03-13T19:12:42Z | en |
| dc.date.available | 2025-03-13T19:12:42Z | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-02-06 | en |
| dc.description.abstract | Shame and perfectionism are associated with and longitudinal predictors of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Because shame represents painful emotions that result from negative self-evaluation and perfectionism involves unrealistically high standards for oneself, proneness to shame may intensify the relation between perfectionism and ED symptoms. The current study aimed to examine relations between perfectionism, shame, and ED symptoms (binge eating, body dissatisfaction, and excessive exercise) cross-sectionally and longitudinally across three months. College students [N = 259; 78% women; 71% White, mean (SD) age = 19.21 (1.24)] completed an online baseline survey in August 2022 and a follow-up survey three-months later. Participants completed measures assessing binge eating, body dissatisfaction, excessive exercise, shame, and perfectionism. Data were analyzed using path analysis in Mplus and significant interactions were probed using the Johnson-Neyman technique. Baseline shame was positively associated with baseline levels of binge eating and body dissatisfaction while baseline perfectionism predicted follow-up excessive exercise. There were not main effects of baseline perfectionism on any baseline ED symptoms nor of baseline shame on any follow-up ED symptoms. Interactive effects revealed that baseline perfectionism was negatively associated with follow-up levels of binge eating and excessive exercise for participants with average and high, but not low, levels of shame. There was not an interactive effect between baseline shame and perfectionism in predicting body dissatisfaction. Clinically, among individuals low in perfectionism, binge eating and excessive exercise interventions should address shame. | en |
| dc.description.abstractgeneral | Shame and perfectionism play a role in the development and maintenance of eating disorder (ED) symptoms. Shame is a painful emotion that results from negative self-evaluation. Perfectionism involves holding oneself to unrealistically high standards, often resulting in negative emotions when these standards are not met. Because both shame and perfectionism both involve negative self-evaluation, it is possible that one’s proneness to shame could intensify the relation between perfectionism and ED symptoms. The goal of the current study was to test the influence of shame on the relations between perfectionism and ED symptoms (binge eating, body dissatisfaction, and excessive exercise) over a span of three months. The study analyzed data collected from 259 college students in August and November 2022 via online surveys. About 78% of participants were women and 71% were White. Results of the study indicated that shame negatively influences the relation between perfectionism and binge eating and perfectionism and excessive exercise for people with average and high, but not low, levels of shame. Clinically, among individuals low in perfectionism, binge eating and excessive exercise interventions should address shame. | en |
| dc.description.degree | Master of Science | en |
| dc.format.medium | ETD | en |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10919/124858 | en |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.publisher | Virginia Tech | en |
| dc.rights | In Copyright | en |
| dc.rights.uri | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | en |
| dc.subject | eating disorders | en |
| dc.subject | shame | en |
| dc.subject | perfectionism | en |
| dc.subject | excessive exercise | en |
| dc.title | Does Shame Amplify the Relations Between Perfectionism and Eating Disorder Symptoms? Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Tests | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
| dc.type.dcmitype | Text | en |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Psychology | en |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | en |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | en |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science | en |