Relationship Between Perfectionism and Binge Eating Disorder in Female College Students: The Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance

Eating disorders are behavioral nutritional disorders with a psycho-social origin, and are considered as one of the global concerns. This study aims to investigate the relationship between perfectionism and binge eating disorder (BED) in female college students, mediated by distress tolerance. 

This is a descriptive-correlational study using structural equation modeling. The study population consists of all female college students in Isfahan, Iran, of whom 214 were selected as the samples by a convenience sampling method. They completed the Perfectionism Inventory, distress tolerance scale, and binge eating scale.

The results indicated a good fit of the study model. The total effect coefficient (sum of direct and indirect effect coefficients) between adaptive perfectionism and BED was negative and significant (P<0.01, β=-0.286), while the total path coefficient between non-adaptive perfectionism and BED was positive and significant (P<0.01, β=0.329). Therefore, distress tolerance negatively mediated the relationship between adaptive perfectionism and BED, and positively mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and BED.

It is important to pay attention to the mediating role of distress tolerance in the relationship between perfectionism and BED. The therapists should include this component in occupational therapy.