Comparing the Explanatory Role of Perfectionism in Obsessive Compulsive Features and Pathological Eating Attitudes

Authors

Abstract

Introduction: Psychopathological perfectionism is often correlated with obsessive compulsive eating
disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the explanatory role of perfectionism in
obsessive compulsive features and pathological eating attitude.
Method: This study was a Correlational research. A group of 790 university studentsF using Stratified
random sampling methodF took part in this research. Participants answered to Obsessive Compulsive
Inventory- Revised, Eating Attitude Test, and the Perfectionism Inventory. Data were analyzed using
concurrent multiple regression analysis.
Results: The results showed that the explanatory role of perfectionism in obsessive-compulsive
features is more than pathological eating attitudes. It also showed the highest contribution of
maladaptive perfectionism in predicting obsessive compulsive features and pathological eating
attitude. Adaptive perfectionism had no significant role in either case.
Conclusion: Role of perfectionism in predicting symptoms of obsessive - compulsiveF is consistent
with its phenomenological feature. Decreasing explanatory role of perfectionism in pathological eating
attitudes possibly is related to the nature of perfectionism measurements.

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