Perfectionism, Perceived Incompetence, and Eating Disorder Symptoms

Despite concerns over the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms on college campuses, little research has examined whether perceived academic ineffectiveness and perfectionism contribute to increased risk of eating disorder symptoms in college students. We hypothesized that perceptions of ineffectiveness in one’s college major, as well as perfectionism, would each be associated with eating disorder symptoms. To test this, we administered three inventories tapping in to mistake concern, eating disorder symptoms, and perceived ineffectiveness in major. Our results have shed light on some of the predictors of eating disorders in a non-clinical, yet at-increased-risk-for-eating-disorders population. In addition to observing that Concern over Mistakes is positively linked with eating disorder symptoms, we detected a positive association between a construct specific to college students (perceived ineffectiveness in major) and eating disorder symptoms