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Perfectionistic concerns and binge eating in mother-daughter dyads: An actor-partner interdependence model
Abstract
Perfectionism is linked to a range of psychopathology, including binge eating. Our study enhanced understanding of the role maternal perfectionistic concerns play in the maintenance of binge eating in emerging adult daughters. A sample of 73 mother-daughter dyads (mean age = 49.51 years for mothers and 19.89 years for daughters) reported on perfectionistic concerns (composite of doubt about actions and concern over mistakes), binge eating, and binge drinking (composite of frequency, severity, and perceptions). Using actor-partner interdependence modelling, mothers' and daughters' perfectionistic concerns were positively associated with their own binge eating (actor effects). Mothers' perfectionistic concerns were positively associated with daughters' binge eating (partner effect), but not vice versa. Perfectionistic concerns did not show significant actor or partner associations with binge drinking, supporting the specificity of our model. Findings suggest binge eating has characterological and interpersonal antecedents.
... This subscale focuses on objective behaviors indicative of binge eating such as overeating and loss of control, allowing for examination of binge eating independent of negative affect (Sherry & Hall, 2009). The 7-day timeframe was adapted by Sherry and Hall (2009) and has been validated in subsequent studies (e.g., Kim et al., 2023). Participants rated items (e.g., "There were times when I ate much more rapidly than normal") on a 7point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). ...
... Means for global AS and its lower-order dimensions, depressive symptoms, and binge eating (Table 1) were within the expected range (±1SD) based on means of prior normative samples (Kim et al., 2023;Sherry & Hall, 2009;Taylor et al., 2007). Cronbach's alphas (Table 1) were acceptable-to-excellent across measures and waves (α = 0.78-0.93). ...
... Third, the homogeneity of our predominantly White, first-year university student sample of mostly women raises concerns about generalizing results to other populations. Nonetheless, given that university-aged women are more susceptible to binge eating compared to their older or male counterparts (Kim et al., 2023), the present study provides insights into this vulnerable population (Keel et al., 2007). Fourth, we did not include an anxiety symptoms measure, precluding the examination of different emotional mediators underlying the links between AS and binge eating. ...
Anxiety sensitivity (AS) – characterized by a persistent fear that arousal-related bodily sensations will lead to serious cognitive, physical, and/or social consequences – is associated with various psychopathologies, including depressive symptoms and binge eating. This 3-week, 3-wave longitudinal study examined the relation between AS (including its global AS factor and lower-order AS cognitive, physical, and social concern dimensions), depressive symptoms, and binge eating among 410 undergraduates from two universities. Using generalized estimating equation models, we found that global AS, AS social concerns, and depressive symptoms predicted binge eating during any given week. Mediation analyses showed that global AS (as a latent variable with its lower-order AS dimensions as indicators), AS cognitive concerns, and AS physical concerns at Wave 1 predicted subsequent increases in depressive symptoms at Wave 2, which, in turn, led to increases in binge eating at Wave 3. Findings contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between AS, depressive symptoms, and binge eating, highlighting the role of binge eating as a potential coping mechanism for individuals with high AS, particularly in managing depressive symptoms. This study underscores the importance of AS-targeted intervention and prevention efforts in addressing depressive symptoms and binge eating.
... Therefore, taken together the original and reformulated PMOBE, it seems that Perfectionistic Concerns is relevant to the occurrence of binge eating. More recently, the authors of the original PMOBE also highlighted the role of mother-daughter relationship in both perfectionism and binge eating [58]. Specifically, they evidenced that mother's perfectionistic concerns would raise the risk of binge eating for themselves and their daughters. ...
... That is, individuals characterized by high levels of Doubts About Actions may also unsuccessfully attempt to restrain their eating to gain social approval from significant others (e.g., family, peers, coaches, teachers…), compensating then that caloric deprivation by binge eating. Interestingly, Kim et al. [58] found that mothers and daughters' Perfectionistic Concerns (conceptualized as the sum of Doubts About Actions and Concern Over Mistakes) play an important role in binge eating. Of the two indicators of mothers' Perfectionistic Concerns, Doubts About Actions was the only one significantly correlated with daughter's binge eating. ...
Background
Perfectionism is considered a vulnerability factor for eating disorders. However, the role of perfectionism in binge eating needs clarification due to notably inconsistencies between studies. The purpose to this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the perfectionism-binge eating association.
Method
Systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. Four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO and Psicodoc) were searched to identify studies published until September 2022. The literature search yielded 30 published articles (N = 9392) that provided 33 independent estimations of the correlation between the two variables.
Results
Random-effects meta-analysis revealed a small-to-moderate positive average effect size between general perfectionism and binge eating (r+ = .17) with a large heterogeneity. Perfectionistic Concerns showed a significant small-to-moderate relationship with binge eating (r+ = .27), whereas Perfectionistic Strivings presented a negligible relationship with binge eating (r+ = .07). Moderator analyses showed that the age, the type of the sample, the study design, and the tools for assessing both variables were statistically associated with the perfectionism-binge eating effect sizes.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that Perfectionism Concerns are closely associated with binge eating symptomatology. This relationship might be moderated by certain variables, especially by the clinical or non-clinical nature of the sample and the instrument employed to assess binge eating.
... Additionally, we measured conflict perpetration as a series of conflict behaviors enacted toward one's friend, but future work could look at both individuals' perspectives on the same events by examining both conflict perpetration and conflict victimization (Basso et al., 2023). Finally, some studies report nonsignificant associations between perfectionism and heavy episodic drinking Kim et al., 2023;Mackinnon et al., 2011). Potentially, individuals high in socially prescribed perfectionism are at increased risk for alcohol-related problems, even if they do not consume alcohol more heavily than others. ...
Friendships are important for the mental well-being of emerging adults. Socially prescribed perfectionism, where individuals feel pressured to be perfect by others, can be destructive, leading to conflict with others, depressive symptoms, and problematic drinking. However, its impact on friendships is not well-explored. This study examined 174 emerging adult friendship dyads using a 4-wave, 4-month dyadic design. Data were analyzed using longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models. Using a novel friend-specific measure of socially prescribed perfectionism, we found that an individual's perceived expectation to be perfect from a friend was positively associated with increased conflict between friends, as well as with higher levels of depressive symptoms and problematic drinking in the individual. Findings lend credence to longstanding theoretical accounts and case histories suggesting socially prescribed perfectionism leads to harmful individual and relational outcomes and extends them to the specific context of friendships.
Perfectionism research has progressively supported an identification of two related dimensions, referred to as perfectionistic strivings (PS) and perfectionistic concerns (PC). Examinations of learner experiences based on these two dimensions have routinely demonstrated differential influence on academic emotions and performances, examining the constructs from either dimensional or typological approaches. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among each dimension of perfectionism with cognitive test anxiety (CTA), self‐regulated learning strategies (SRL), and learners' threat appraisals related to forthcoming tests (Perceived Test Threat or PTT). Structural equation modeling revealed that (a) CTA partially mediated the relationship between PC and PTT and (b) SRL fully mediated the inverse relationship between PS and PTT. Furthermore, generalized additive model (GAM) confirmed a positive linear relationship between PC and PTT, but revealed the relationship between PS and PTT was curvilinear. The results indicate that moderate levels of PS support more positive appraisals of academic outcomes by activating self‐regulated learning tendencies. Conversely, as learners' levels of PC increased, so did their activation of test anxiety and a subsequent appraisal of tests as threatening events.
Network models of psychopathology can identify specific items/symptoms that explain the connections among broader constructs such as depression, anxiety, and perfectionism. In two studies, we examine the dynamic interplay between depression, anxiety, and perfectionism symptoms among undergraduates using structural equation modeling (SEM) and network analysis. Participants in two independent samples (N = 774 and N = 759) completed online, cross-sectional questionnaires including measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and perfectionism (i.e., concerns over mistakes , doubts about actions, and personal standards). When analyzing data in the traditional fashion using SEM as a point of comparison, results from both samples were consistent with the existing literature. After controlling for all other perfectionism variables in the model, concerns over mistakes and doubts about actions were positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms (βs from .21 to .46), while personal standards showed negative associations with depressive symptoms (β =-.20 both samples) and non-significant associations with anxiety symptoms (βs from-.09. to-.03). Nonetheless, model fit for the confirmatory factor model was below ideal cutoffs in the second sample, suggesting other structures (e.g., a network model) might better represent the data. Network analyses revealed associations between constructs at the item level across both samples. Four key symptoms emerged as central nodes linking depression , anxiety, and perfectionism: difficulty taking initiative to do activities, feeling worthless, feeling close to panic, and doubts about simple everyday activities. This study underscores the importance of investigating item-level associations for a nuanced interpretation of these constructs.
Objective
Future treatments for eating disorders (ED) need to be enhanced by targeting maintaining mechanisms. Literature suggests self‐criticism and self‐critical perfectionism act as key mechanisms exacerbating ED, and self‐compassion protects against self‐criticism. This meta‐analysis examines associations between self‐criticism and self‐critical perfectionism on disordered eating (DE), and reviews how self‐compassion and self‐criticism relate to each other with respect to DE.
Method
Searches across three databases yielded 135 studies across 42,952 participants. Heterogeneity, publication bias, and quality assessments were analyzed. Moderation analyses between self‐criticism measures, self‐compassion measures, between clinical and nonclinical samples, and between cross‐sectional and experimental studies were also conducted.
Results
Random‐effects models showed a medium positive link between self‐criticism and DE ( r = .37), and 10 subgroups pertaining to various measures of self‐criticism utilized in literature showed small to large positive links with DE ( r = .20–.52). Preliminary evidence also suggests negative relationships between self‐compassion and DE ( r = −.40 to −.43) and negative relationships between self‐compassion and self‐criticism ( r = −.04 to −.88).
Discussion
Greater levels of self‐criticism is linked with greater levels of DE and reduced levels of self‐compassion, suggesting a need to tackle self‐criticism and nurture self‐compassion in standard treatments for ED. Understanding these interactions better in conjunction with dismantling intervention studies can help develop more effective and efficient interventions targeting self‐criticism and self‐compassion for people with DE.
Public Significance Statement
Higher levels of self‐criticism are linked with higher levels of DE and lower self‐compassion. Self‐compassion interventions could be more effective and efficient in reducing ED symptoms if self‐criticism is tackled early in such treatments.
Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate 2 multidimensional measures of perfectionism (R. O. Frost, P. Marten, C. Lahart, & R. Rosenblate, 1990; P. L. Hewitt & G. L. Flett, 1991). On a first-order level, support was found for Hewitt and Flett's (1991) original 3-factor conceptualization of perfectionism, although only for an empirically derived 15-item subset. Support was also obtained for 5 of the 6 dimensions proposed by R. O. Frost et al. (1990), but the model only displayed good fit when a refined scale containing 22 of the original 35 items was used. A second- order analysis found evidence for 2 higher-order factors of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism. Perfectionism dimensions correlated in expected directions with personality domains, symptom distress, and academic achievement. The brief measures of perfectionism also retained the construct-related validity displayed by the full-item versions.
This article describes the development and validation of a brief self-report scale for diagnosing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. Study 1 used a panel of eating-disorder experts and provided evidence for the content validity of this scale. Study 2 used data from female participants with and without eating disorders (N = 367) and suggested that the diagnoses from this scale possessed temporal reliability (mean κ = .80) and criterion validity (with interview diagnoses; mean κ = .83). In support of convergent validity, individuals with eating disorders identified by this scale showed elevations on validated measures of eating disturbances. The overall symptom composite also showed test–retest reliability (r = .87), internal consistency (mean α = .89), and convergent validity with extant eating-pathology scales. Results implied that this scale was reliable and valid in this investigation and that it may be useful for clinical and research applications.
The perfectionism model of binge eating (PMOBE) is an integrative model explaining the link between perfectionism and binge eating. This model proposes socially prescribed perfectionism confers risk for binge eating by generating exposure to 4 putative binge triggers: interpersonal discrepancies, low interpersonal esteem, depressive affect, and dietary restraint. The present study addresses important gaps in knowledge by testing if these 4 binge triggers uniquely predict changes in binge eating on a daily basis and if daily variations in each binge trigger mediate the link between socially prescribed perfectionism and daily binge eating. Analyses also tested if proposed mediational models generalized across Asian and European Canadians. The PMOBE was tested in 566 undergraduate women using a 7-day daily diary methodology. Depressive affect predicted binge eating, whereas anxious affect did not. Each binge trigger uniquely contributed to binge eating on a daily basis. All binge triggers except for dietary restraint mediated the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and change in daily binge eating. Results suggested cross-cultural similarities, with the PMOBE applying to both Asian and European Canadian women. The present study advances understanding of the personality traits and the contextual conditions accompanying binge eating and provides an important step toward improving treatments for people suffering from eating binges and associated negative consequences.
The perfectionism model of binge eating (PMOBE) is an integrative model explaining why perfectionism is related to binge eating. This study reformulates and tests the PMOBE, with a focus on addressing limitations observed in the perfectionism and binge-eating literature. In the reformulated PMOBE, concern over mistakes is seen as a destructive aspect of perfectionism contributing to a cycle of binge eating via 4 binge-eating maintenance variables: interpersonal discrepancies, low interpersonal esteem, depressive affect, and dietary restraint. This test of the reformulated PMOBE involved 200 undergraduate women studied using a 3-wave longitudinal design. As hypothesized, concern over mistakes appears to represent a vulnerability factor for binge eating. Bootstrapped tests of mediation suggested concern over mistakes contributes to binge eating through binge-eating maintenance variables, and results supported the incremental validity of the reformulated PMOBE beyond perfectionistic strivings and neuroticism. The reformulated PMOBE also predicted binge eating, but not binge drinking, supporting the specificity of this model. The reformulated PMOBE offers a framework for understanding how key contributors to binge eating work together to generate and to maintain binge eating.
The perfectionism social disconnection model (PSDM) asserts socially prescribed perfectionism confers risk for depression by eroding social self-esteem. However, self-oriented perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism are neglected in extant tests of the PSDM. Moreover, the PSDM attributes the source of depression to dispositional characteristics without considering interpersonal contexts. We expanded and tested the PSDM in 218 mother-daughter dyads using a daily diary design with longitudinal follow-up. Daughters completed measures of self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism (Wave 1), social self-esteem (Wave 2), and depression (Wave 1 and Wave 3). Mothers completed a measure of other-oriented perfectionism (Wave 1). Daughters’ socially prescribed and self-oriented perfectionism, and mothers’ other-oriented perfectionism, conferred vulnerability to daughters’ depression by lowering daughters’ social self-esteem.
Previous studies have found associations between maternal and family factors and child eating disorder symptoms. However, it is not clear whether family factors predict eating disorder symptoms specifically, or relate to more general child psychopathology, of which eating disorder symptoms may be one component. This study aimed to identify maternal and family factors that may predict increases or decreases in child eating disorder symptoms over time, accounting for children's body mass index z-scores and levels of general psychological distress.
Participants were 221 mother-child dyads from the Childhood Growth and Development Study, a prospective cohort study in Western Australia. Participants were assessed at baseline, 1-year follow-up and 2-year follow-up using interview and self-report measures. Children had a mean age of 10 years at baseline and 46% were male. Linear mixed models and generalised estimating equations were used to identify predictors of children's eating disorder symptoms, with outcome variables including a global index of eating disorder psychopathology, levels of dietary restraint, levels of emotional eating, and the presence of loss of control ('binge') eating.
Children of mothers with a current or past eating disorder reported significantly higher levels of global eating disorder symptoms and emotional eating than other children, and mothers with a current or past eating disorder reported significantly more concern about their children's weight than other mothers. Maternal concern about child weight, rather than maternal eating disorder symptoms, was significant in predicting child eating disorder symptoms over time. Family exposure to stress and low maternal education were additional risk factors for eating disorder symptoms, whilst child-reported family satisfaction was a protective factor.
After adjusting for relevant confounding variables, maternal concern about child weight, children's level of family satisfaction, family exposure to stress, and maternal education are unique predictors of child eating disorder symptoms.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a vast field and widely used by many applied researchers in the social and behavioral sciences. Over the years, many software pack-ages for structural equation modeling have been developed, both free and commercial. However, perhaps the best state-of-the-art software packages in this field are still closed-source and/or commercial. The R package lavaan has been developed to provide applied researchers, teachers, and statisticians, a free, fully open-source, but commercial-quality package for latent variable modeling. This paper explains the aims behind the develop-ment of the package, gives an overview of its most important features, and provides some examples to illustrate how lavaan works in practice.
Pain anxiety refers to a range of cognitive (catastrophic thinking), behavioral (escape and avoidance), and physiological (heightened arousal) responses to pain (McCracken & Gross). Greater pain anxiety is associated with greater pain severity, disability, and distress. This retrospective study investigated learning history experiences related to the development of pain anxiety in a sample of 198 undergraduates (147 women, 51 men). Childhood instrumental and, to a more limited extent, vicarious learning experiences with pain were positively associated with levels of pain anxiety in adulthood. The physical concerns component of anxiety sensitivity (AS: fear of arousal-related somatic sensations), but not AS-psychological or social concerns or trait anxiety, was found to mediate the relationship between childhood instrumental learning experiences with pain and pain avoidance behavior, cognitive anxiety, and physiological anxiety in adulthood. Both AS physical concerns and, to a lesser extent trait anxiety, mediated the relationship between childhood instrumental learning experiences with pain and fearful thinking about pain in adulthood. Finally, AS physical concerns, but not AS-psychological or social concerns or trait anxiety, also was found to mediate the relationship between childhood observational learning experiences with pain and pain cognitive anxiety and fearful thinking in adulthood.
Background: The co-morbidity between social phobia and alcohol disorder is well established. Aims: This study investigated the nature of the relationship between traits associated with these disorders. Method: A total of 157 undergraduate drinkers (112 women; 45 men) completed measures tapping aspects of social phobia (i.e., the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale) and drinking behavior (i.e., the Drinking Motives Questionnaire – Revised, quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption, and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index). Results: Correlational analyses (controlling for gender) revealed that: (i) social avoidance and distress was significantly negatively related to drinking frequency; (ii) fear of negative evaluation and social avoidance and distress were both significantly positively related to drinking to cope with negative emotions and to conform to peer pressure; and (iii) fear of negative evaluation was also significantly positively related to drinking to socialize and to drinking problems. The relationship between fear of negative evaluation and drinking problems was mediated by coping and conformity drinking motives. Conclusions: Implications for developing effective integrated treatments for co-occurring social anxiety and alcohol problems are discussed, as are preventative implications.
This study proposes, tests, and supports the perfectionism model of binge eating (PMOBE), a model aimed at explaining why perfectionism is related to binge eating. According to this model, socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) confers risk for binge eating by generating exposure to 4 triggers of binge episodes: interpersonal discrepancies, low interpersonal esteem, depressive affect, and dietary restraint. In testing the PMOBE, a daily diary was completed by 566 women for 7 days. Predictions derived from the PMOBE were supported, with tests of mediation suggesting that the indirect effect of SPP on binge eating through triggers of binge episodes was significant. Reciprocal relations were also observed, with certain triggers of binge episodes predicting binge eating (and vice versa). Results supported the incremental validity of the PMOBE over and above self-oriented perfectionism and neuroticism and the generalizability of this model across Asian and European Canadian participants. The PMOBE offers a novel view of individuals with high levels of SPP as active agents who raise their risk of binge eating by generating conditions in their daily lives that are conducive to binge episodes.
To explore the extent to which binge eating in the absence of compensatory behaviors (BE) is associated with psychiatric and medical symptoms in men and women and to control for the independent effects of BMI.
A series of regression models was applied to questionnaire data on 8045 twins, 18 to 31 years old, from a population-based Norwegian registry.
BE was significantly associated with elevated obesity, overweight, symptoms of eating disorders, symptoms of anxiety and depression, panic attacks, depressive episodes, and reduced life satisfaction in both men and women. In women, BE was independently associated with insomnia and early menarche. In men, BE was independently associated with specific phobia, daily smoking, alcohol use, use of pain medication, impairment due to mental health, neck-shoulder, lower back, and chronic muscular pain, and impairment due to physical health. Both men and women with BE reported higher rates of psychiatric treatment.
Our results indicate that there is substantial comorbidity between BE and psychiatric symptoms independently of BMI for both men and women. Medical symptoms co-occur less frequently than previously reported from treatment-seeking populations in women. Across all domains, the array of symptoms exhibited by men with BE was broader than that observed in women with BE. This observation suggests the importance of considering gender differences in future studies of psychiatric and medical morbidity, binge eating, and obesity.
This study sought to identify in white women risk factors specific to binge-eating disorder (BED) and for psychiatric disorders in general, and to compare black and white women on risk factors for BED.
A case-control design was used. Participants were recruited from the community and included 162 women who met DSM-IV criteria for BED and two comparison groups of women with no history of clinically significant eating disorder symptoms. The comparison women were matched to BED women on age, education and ethnicity and divided into a healthy comparison (HC) group, who had no current psychiatric disorder, and a psychiatric comparison (PC) group, who had a diagnosis of a DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric disorder. The study sample size was determined by the group with the least members (PC), including 107 women with BED and 214 matched comparison women. A broad range of risk factors was assessed with a Risk Factor Interview and the Parental Bonding Instrument.
No significant effects for ethnicity by diagnostic group were found. BED women reported higher exposure to childhood obesity, family overeating or binge-eating, family discord, and high parental demands than PC women. The combined BED and PC group scored significantly higher than the HC group on measures of negative affect, parental mood and substance disorders, perfectionism, separation from parents, and maternal problems with parenting.
These findings indicate that childhood obesity and familial eating problems are reliable specific risk factors for BED. Ethnicity does not appear to moderate risk for BED.
The article describes a 20-year longitudinal study of body weight, dieting, and disordered eating in women and men. Body weight increased significantly over time in both women and men. However, women's weight perception and dieting frequency decreased over time, whereas men's weight perception and dieting frequency increased, and disordered eating declined more in women than in men from late adolescence to midlife. In both women and men, changes in weight perception and dieting frequency were associated with changes in disordered eating. In addition, adult roles such as marriage and parenthood were associated with significant decreases in disordered eating from late adolescence to midlife in women, whereas few associations were observed in men. Despite different developmental trajectories, women demonstrated more weight dissatisfaction, dieting, and disordered eating compared with men across the period of observation.
Introduction: In early 2020, North American jurisdictions required households (e.g., romantic couples) to isolate together to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study provides a first look at the interplay of depressive symptoms and conflict behaviors among isolating couples, including tests of predictions of the stress generation hypothesis. Methods: Mixed-gender couples residing in Canada (N = 711) completed online measures across two waves. We used the actor-partner interdependence mediation model, with Wave 1 depressive symptoms as the predictor, Wave 1 conflict enactment as the mediator, and Wave 2 depressive symptoms as the outcome. Results: Depressive symptoms showed stability across Wave 1 and 2. Wave 1 depressive symptoms showed associations with Wave 1 conflict enactment. For men (but not women), Wave 1 conflict enactment was associated with their own and their partner's Wave 2 depressive symptoms. For both partners, Wave 1 conflict enacted by men mediated the association between Wave 1 depressive symptoms and Wave 2 depressive symptoms. Discussion: Our study confirms and extends the stress generation hypothesis to the pandemic context, showing that depressive symptoms may partially contribute to conflict for isolating couples and that conflict behaviors enacted by men toward their partner can exacerbate depressive symptoms in both partners.
Heavy episodic drinking (or binge drinking) is a significant public health concern. Self-medication using alcohol is often thought to explain the co-occurrence of heavy episodic drinking with depression and anxiety. Yet, there is little longitudinal work examining both depressive and anxiety symptoms and how they are independently related to heavy episodic drinking in adult community samples. To this end, we invited adult community members (N = 102) to come to the lab to complete validated measures of depressive symptoms (composite of CES-D-SF, SCL-90-D, and DASS-21-D), anxiety symptoms (DASS-21-A), and heavy episodic drinking (composite of frequency, severity, and perceptions) at baseline, and again three and six months later. Using a three-wave cross-lagged panel model, we tested reciprocal relations between heavy episodic drinking and each internalizing symptom. We found strong temporal stability in our study variables. Depressive symptoms were associated with increases in heavy episodic drinking, and anxiety symptoms were associated with decreases in heavy episodic drinking. In contrast, heavy episodic drinking did not predict either internalizing symptom over time. Results are consistent with the notion that individuals with greater depressive symptoms use alcohol to self-medicate, and that anxiety symptoms (particularly autonomic arousal) may be potentially protective against future heavy episodic drinking.
Introduction:
Drinkers have social and affective reasons for using alcohol ('drinking motives'). Historically, drinking motives are self-reported. Informant-reports of drinking motives may be useful in corroborating self-report data. Thus, we investigated the correspondence between self- and informant-reports of drinking motives and the incremental validity of informant-reported motives in predicting targets' future alcohol problems.
Methods:
Measures were completed by 174 university-aged, same-sex drinking buddy dyads (66% women) across two waves separated by 30 days. Dyad members who contacted study organisers were treated as targets, and their buddies as informants. Targets self-reported their own drinking motives at baseline, as well as their own alcohol problems at baseline and 30 days later. Informants reported on targets' drinking motives at baseline.
Results:
Self- and informant-reports of targets' internal drinking motives (coping-depression and enhancement) showed significant, small positive correlations. Informants-reports of these same internal drinking motives (as well as coping-anxiety) predicted change in targets' alcohol problems over time, thereby providing additional predictive validity beyond that provided by targets' self-reports.
Discussion and conclusions:
We encourage incorporating informant-reported internal drinking motives when assessing risk for escalating problem drinking in emerging adult drinkers.
Objective
Numerous empirical studies and theoretical models posit that shame is a common experience among individuals across the eating disorder spectrum. In this study we aim to investigate the association between shame and eating disorders symptoms using a meta-analytical approach.
Method
In this meta-analysis, we synthesized findings from 195 studies to examine the proposed association between shame and eating disorders symptoms. We looked at the associations with both general eating disorders symptoms and with specific eating disorders symptoms (i.e., anorexic, bulimic, and binge-eating symptoms). Moderation analyses testing for the effect of type of shame, type of eating symptoms, clinical status, quality of the study, age, and gender were conducted.
Results
Shame was significantly associated with a medium to large effect size with all types of eating disorders symptoms (rs between .40 and .52). Body shame (r = .55) and shame around eating (r = .59) were more strongly related with eating disorders pathology. Type of eating disorders symptoms did not moderate the relationship between shame and disturbed eating.
Discussion
Overall, the magnitude of the effect size of the association between shame and eating disorders symptoms is a medium to large one. Body shame and shame around eating seem to be the types of shame most closely tied with eating disorders symptoms, suggesting that directly targeting them in interventions might be highly beneficial. Findings highlight current gaps in the literature (e.g., mostly correlational studies, low quality studies) with implications for future research.
Shafran et al. (2002) provided a cognitive-behavioural analysis of perfectionism that focused primarily on self-oriented perfectionism. They argued against studying perfectionism from a multidimensional perspective that they regard as inconsistent with prior work on perfectionism as a self-oriented phenomenon. We respond to Shafran et al. (2002) by offering historical, empirical, and theoretical support for the usefulness and the importance of a multidimensional model of perfectionism involving both intrapersonal processes and interpersonal dynamics. It is concluded that a multidimensional approach to the study of perfectionism is still warranted.
Learning about statistics is a lot like learning about science: the learning is more meaningful if you can actively explore. This thirteenth installment of Explorations in Statistics explores the log transformation, an established technique that rescales the actual observations from an experiment so that the assumptions of some statistical analysis are better met. A general assumption in statistics is that the variability of some response Y is homogeneous across groups or across some predictor variable X. If the variability-the standard deviation-varies in rough proportion to the mean value of Y, a log transformation can equalize the standard deviations. Moreover, if the actual observations from an experiment conform to a skewed distribution, then a log transformation can make the theoretical distribution of the sample mean more consistent with a normal distribution. This is important: the results of a one-sample t test are meaningful only if the theoretical distribution of the sample mean is roughly normal. If we log-transform our observations, then we want to confirm the transformation was useful. We can do this if we use the Box-Cox method, if we bootstrap the sample mean and the statistic t itself, and if we assess the residual plots from the statistical model of the actual and transformed sample observations.
The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of possible medical complications of binge-eating disorder (BED).
Literature on BED, both in obese and nonobese patients, was reviewed.
A growing literature suggests that BED independently may increase the likelihood of developing components of the metabolic syndrome, and that LOC eating in children may contribute to weight gain and metabolic disturbances. Limited evidence suggests that other organ systems may be affected by BED as well.
Additional prospective studies are needed. Although the results of the available studies are not definitive and provide somewhat mixed results, there does appear to be a clear suggestion of an increased risk for the development of components of the metabolic syndrome in adults and children. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2015).
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perfectionism is a major diagnostic criterion for one DSM-III diagnosis, and it has been hypothesized to play a major role in a wide variety of psychopathologies. Yet there is no precise definition of, and there is a paucity of research on, this construct. Based on what has been theorized about perfectionism, a multidimensional measure was developed and several hypotheses regarding the nature of perfectionism were tested in four separate studies. The major dimension of this measure was excessive concern over making mistakes. Five other dimensions were identified, including high personal standards, the perception of high parental expectations, the perception of high parental criticism, the doubting of the quality of one's actions, and a preference for order and organization. Perfectionism and certain of its subscales were correlated with a wide variety of psychopathological symptoms. There was also an association between perfectionism and procrastination. Several subscales of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), personal standards and organization, were associated with positive achievement striving and work habits. The MPS was highly correlated with one of the existing measures of perfectionism. Two other existing measures were only moderately correlated with the MPS and with each other. Future studies of perfectionism should take into account the multidimensional nature of the construct.
Theory and research suggest that maladaptive perfectionism, specifically, concerns about mistakes (CM) and doubts about actions (DA), may be important etiologic and maintenance mechanisms for anxiety and its disorders. However, no studies speaking directly to the origins of the relationship, i.e. what etiologic factors underlie the phenotypic association between anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism, exist. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by exploring genetic and environmental relationships between anxiety symptoms and maladaptive perfectionism.
The sample consisted of 292 young adult same-sex female twins from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Anxiety symptoms were assessed by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait version and an anxiety problems scale derived from the Young Adult Self Report. Maladaptive perfectionism was measured using the CM and DA subscales of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale.
Anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism were both moderately heritable, with estimates ranging from. 45 to .66. Moreover, multivariate analyses revealed that genetic factors were primarily responsible for associations between anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism (r(g) =.59-.88).
This is the first study to demonstrate the role of genetic factors in the relationship between anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism. Future studies are needed to uncover the specific biologic and genetic factors that contribute to this relationship and to evaluate whether maladaptive perfectionism represents an intermediate trait or risk factor for anxiety.
This study was designed to compare risk situations for binge eating vs. heavy drinking among women who struggle with both problems. Participants were 41 women in treatment for an alcohol problem who also self-reported binge eating. Participants completed the Inventory of Binge Eating Situations (IBES; [Baker, J. M. (1998). Binge eating and binge drinking among university women. Unpublished master's thesis, Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada]) and the Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS-42; [Annis, H. M., Graham, J. M., & Davis, C. S. (1987). Inventory of Drinking Situations (IDS) user's guide. Toronto, Canada: Addiction Research Foundation]) to measure frequency of binge eating and heavy drinking, respectively, in eight categories of situations. A 2 (substance) x8 (situation) repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant substancexsituation interaction. Further exploration of this interaction indicated that heavy drinking is more likely than binge eating to occur in reward and interpersonal situations involving pleasant emotions, pleasant times with others, social pressure, and conflict with others. In contrast, binge eating and heavy drinking are equally likely to occur in relief situations involving unpleasant emotions, and physical discomfort, as well as in situations involving urges and temptations, and testing control. Implications of findings for the treatment of co-occurring binge eating and heavy drinking in women are discussed.
Effects of maternal eating behaviors and attitudes, maternal feedback to daughter about weight issues, mother-daughter relationship closeness, media influences, and mothers' perceptions of daughters shape on daughters' body image and eating pathology were examined using 91 pairs of mothers and college-aged daughters. Hierarchical multiple regressions using daughters' BMI as the first step were separately performed for daughters' body image and eating pathology. Variables predictive of daughters' body image included negative feedback from mother, mother's disapproval of daughter's figure, and mothers' eating behaviors and attitudes as perceived by daughters. A similar pattern was found for daughters' eating pathology scores with the addition of mothers' tendency to internalize media messages regarding thinness and beauty significantly adding to the prediction. Maternal influence through modeling may be best assessed by using the daughters' perceptions of their mothers because this corresponds to what the daughter was aware of in their mothers' eating attitudes and behaviors. Negative feedback from mothers about daughters' figures and eating patterns significantly increased daughters' difficulties in these areas. Mothers who showed a greater internalization of media messages about thinness were most likely to have daughters with eating pathologies.
iGen: Why today's super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy-and completely unprepared for adulthood-and what that means for the rest of us
- J M Twenge
Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why today's super-connected kids are growing up less rebellious,
more tolerant, less happy-and completely unprepared for adulthood-and what that means
for the rest of us. Simon and Schuster.