Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Thesis (UNI Access Only)

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are the three primary DSM-5-TR eating disorders of adolescence and adulthood. However, maladaptive eating behaviors can cause impairment even without meeting threshold for one of these diagnoses; this is considered disordered eating. There is a large gender difference in the prevalence of these issues, such that women are 10 times more likely to be affected. DSM-5-TR criteria were developed using research primarily conducted with women participants, which potentially contributes to the under-recognition of disordered eating in men. In the current study I first explored some potentially more appropriate disordered eating items to better understand men’s eating pathology. These muscularityoriented items seemed to capture a broader scope of disordered eating in men. Next, because anxiety disorders are frequently comorbid with eating disorders, and typically onset before an eating disorder, the current study also examined anxiety. Anxiety and eating pathology are common in people with high levels of perfectionism, especially maladaptive, self-oriented perfectionism. Thus, I examined the potentially moderating role of perfectionism between anxiety and disordered eating. I hypothesized that in people with elevated anxiety, the presence of perfectionism would increase disordered eating behavior. Although the three main variables of anxiety, perfectionism, and disordered eating were significant and positively correlated, perfectionism was not shown to be a moderator of anxiety and disordered eating. These results suggest a different format may better capture the relation between anxiety, perfectionism, and disordered eating. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Year of Submission

2023

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Psychology

First Advisor

Elizabeth Lefler, Chair, Thesis Committee

Date Original

5-2023

Object Description

1 PDF file (vii, 91 pages)

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