Concern Over Mistakes and Emotion Regulation are Uniquely and Synergistically Associated with Eating Disorder Symptoms

Authors

Madison Ortman, University of LouisvilleFollow
Aleena Saifullah, University of LouisvilleFollow
Mattison Hale, University of LouisvilleFollow
Taylor Porter, University of LouisvilleFollow
Sara Clark, University of LouisvilleFollow
Maritza Lazo, University of LouisvilleFollow
Caroline Christian, University of LouisvilleFollow
Claire Cusack, University of LouisvilleFollow
Cheri Levinson, University of LouisvilleFollow
Rachel Butler, University of LouisvilleFollow

Program/Event

Arts and Research Showcase 2023

Abstract

Concern Over Mistakes and Emotion Regulation Skills are Uniquely and Synergistically Associated with Eating Disorder Symptoms in Adolescence

Madison Ortman*, Mattison J. Hale*, Aleena Saifullah*, Sara Clark*, Taylor Porter*, Maritza Lazo B.A. *, Caroline Christian M.S. †, Claire E. Cusack M.A.†, Rachel Butler, Ph.D., Cheri A. Levinson, Ph.D. †

*Authors contributed equally to this work. † Provided supervision.

University of Louisville, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences

Perfectionism and emotion dysregulation are transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factors implicated in eating disorders (EDs). Specifically, increased perfectionism and poorer emotional regulation skills have been associated with increased risk for ED behaviors and symptom severity. Though perfectionism and emotional regulation difficulties are implicated in EDs in adults, little is known about the associations across EDs, perfectionism, and emotional regulation difficulties in adolescents. In the current study, we analyzed the relationship between three unique perfectionism dimensions (e.g., concern over mistakes, parental criticism, pure personal standards), emotional regulation skills, and their interaction on ED symptoms severity. We found a significant relationship between concern over mistakes and ED symptoms (p < .001), a significant relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and ED symptoms (p < .001), and a significant relationship between their interaction and ED symptoms (p = .018). Parental criticism and pure personal standards were not associated with ED symptom severity, when accounting for emotion regulation difficulties (ps > .05). A simple slopes analysis revealed the relationship between concern over mistakes and ED symptom severity was strengthened for those with average to poor emotion regulation skills, but not for individuals with high emotion regulation skills. Thus, it is important to assess for ED symptoms among adolescents with elevated emotion regulation difficulties and perfectionism symptoms, as greater challenges with emotion dysregulation may exacerbate the relationship between perfectionism and ED symptoms.

Recommended Citation

Ortman, Madison; Saifullah, Aleena; Hale, Mattison; Porter, Taylor; Clark, Sara; Lazo, Maritza; Christian, Caroline; Cusack, Claire; Levinson, Cheri; and Butler, Rachel (2021) "Concern Over Mistakes and Emotion Regulation are Uniquely and Synergistically Associated with Eating Disorder Symptoms," The Cardinal Edge: Vol. 1: Iss. 4, Article 28.
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/tce/vol1/iss4/28