Original scientific paper
Perfectionism, Private Self-Consciousness, Negative Affect and Avoidance as Determinants of Binge Eating
Alessandra POKRAJAC-BULIAN
orcid.org/0000-0001-9142-5781
; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rijeka
Mladenka TKALČIĆ
; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rijeka
Igor KARDUM
; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rijeka
Šarlota ŠAJINA
; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rijeka
Miljana KUKIĆ
; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Rijeka
Abstract
The aim of this study was to understand factors leading to binge
eating in the student population, concerning some affective,
cognitive and situational variables. As a small number of
researches tested the Escape theory (Heatherton i Baumeister,
1991), which is very important in understanding binge eating
behaviour, this study tried to evaluate the whole model and
interrelations among its components. Four hundred students from
the University of Rijeka participated in this study, aged 19 – 29
years. Data about perfectionism, private self-consciousness,
negative affect, body image coping strategies, and binge eating
were collected using self-report questionnaires. Obtained results
showed that perfectionism significantly correlated with high
aversive self-awareness, negative affect and escape avoidance
strategy in body image threatening situations which could lead to
binge eating. Avoidance coping independently contributed to
binge eating but also mediated effects of other variables – negative
affect, perfectionism, and private self-consciousness. It could
be hypothesized that the combination of these variables constitutes
a risk profile for later development of eating disorders. Obtained data confirm assumptions of Heatherton and Baumeister's
Escape theory in explanation of the development of binge eating
disorder and highlight the need to include these variables in the
prevention programmes and treatment of eating disorders.
Keywords
Escape theory; perfectionism; private self-consciousness; negative affect; body image coping strategies; binge eating
Hrčak ID:
37113
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2009.
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