Perfectionism, appearance self-criticism, and appearance overgeneralization: A self-punitiveness risk model for eating disorder symptoms

In this study, a self-punitiveness model previously used in the area of depression was applied to the study of eating disorder symptoms. The interactive self-punitiveness model of perfectionism, appearance self-criticism, and appearance overgeneralization was tested on 169 young women to predict eating disorder symptoms as measured by the Eating Attitudes Test and the Bulimia Test. A series of correlational analyses and hierarchical regressions was performed. Results indicated that the three-way interaction of self-oriented perfectionism, appearance self-criticism, and appearance overgeneralization was a significant predictor of eating disorder symptoms. In addition, results indicated that the appearance specific forms of self-criticism and overgeneralization predicted a significant amount of variability in eating disorder symptoms over and above the general forms of these constructs. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.