Perfectionism and eating disorder symptoms: An analysis of the protective effects of ethnic identity in female Latinx college students

Abstract

Disordered eating in college student populations is highly prevalent. Even so, eating disorder research has largely centered on risk and protective factors relevant to White women, while neglecting to focus on the experiences of people with marginalized identities. The current cross-sectional study a) assessed the relation between evaluative concerns and strivings subscales of perfectionism on disordered eating symptoms in Latinx college women, and b) determined if a high sense of ethnic identity may moderate this relation such that as ethnic identity increases, the effects of perfectionism on disordered eating symptoms decreases. Latinx women from a Mid-Atlantic university (n = 113) completed self-report questionnaires of perfectionism, ethnic identity, and disordered eating. Results revealed that evaluative concerns was a positive predictor of dietary restraint, shape and weight over-evaluation, and body dissatisfaction. Moderation results were non-significant.