Perfectionism is implicated in the onset, course, and remission of disordered eating (Bastiani, Rao, Weltzin, & Kaye, 1995; Bruch, 1979; Cockell et al., 2002; Stice, 2002; Tozzi, et al., 2005; Vohs, Bardone, Joiner, & Abramson, 1999; references are contained in Appendix F on p. 271). Building on the above research tradition, this dissertation proposed and evaluated a model relating perfectionism to binge eating. This new model is termed the Perfectionism Model of Binge Eating (PMOBE). According to the PMOBE, perfectionism confers vulnerability to binge eating by generating encounters with and by magnifying responses to specific triggers of binge eating: namely, perceived discrepancies, low self-esteem, depressive affect, and dietary restraint. <p>A multi-site, 7-day, web-based structured daily diary study was conducted to test the PMOBE. Overall, 566 female university students participated, and these individuals provided 3509 useable diary responses. A data analytic strategy involving structural equation modeling and multilevel modeling generally supported the PMOBE. For example, a structural model relating socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., perceiving that others are demanding perfection of oneself) to binge eating through the aforementioned binge eating triggers demonstrated acceptable fit. Multilevel mediation also indicated that the influence of self-oriented perfectionism (i.e., demanding perfection of oneself) and socially prescribed perfectionism on binge eating operated through the abovementioned binge eating triggers (excepting dietary restraint). Support for multilevel moderation was limited, but suggested that the relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and binge eating was conditional upon dietary restraint. <p>This study is, to my knowledge, the first to examine the perfectionism-disordered eating connection using a structured daily diary methodology. Thus, this study offered a unique perspective apart from the usual cross-sectional and nomothetic research on perfectionism and eating pathology. In particular, this study suggested that, in their day-to-day lives, perfectionistic individuals (especially socially prescribed perfectionists) inhabit a world permeated with putative triggers of binge eating. Although perfectionism appeared to generate exposure to binge eating triggers, by and large, it did not seem to magnify responses to these same triggers (Bolger & Zuckerman, 1995, p. 890). A somewhat qualified version of the PMOBE was thus supported, with socially prescribed perfectionism assuming greater importance than self-oriented perfectionism and with perfectionism conferring vulnerability to binge eating by generating environments with, but not magnifying responses to, binge triggers. Overall, this dissertation contributed new knowledge to our understanding of the precipitants and the correlates of binge eating and highlighted the idea that perfectionism may play an important part in binge eating.

This study examined the interrelationships between adolescent weight and several other variables thought to impact weight and obesity: physical activity, depressive symptoms, binge-eating symptoms, dieting, socio-economic status, special education status, gender, and ethnicity. The sample consisted of 251 high school students in rural Florida who completed measures of depression, binge-eating, dieting, and physical activity. Measurement instruments included the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-2nd Edition (RADS-2), the bulimia scale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), the dieting scale of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and a physical activity questionnaire derived from the Youth Risk Behavior Scale for Students (YRBSS). The study utilized path analysis, a group correlational design, to determine whether the proposed path model fit the data. Obese and non-obese students also were compared with regard to a) the levels of binge-eating symptoms, and b) the relationship between binge-eating and depression. Path analysis results were not statistically or clinically significant, suggesting a poor fit of the model to the data. Results indicated 19% of participants were obese and 20% were overweight. More than three times as many obese students than non-obese students reported experiencing a binge-eating experience at some time in the past. However, on the bulimia scale of the EDI-2, obese and non-obese participants did not differ statistically in their responses. Statistically but not clinically significant correlations were revealed between depression and binge-eating for the sample and also for non-obese students. For the sub-sample of 13 students who had both binged and dieted, 7 had binged first, 3 had dieted first, and 3 binged and dieted for the first time at the same age. Future research should continue to investigate the relationships of the variables related to obesity. Future directions might include a larger sampl e size and a modified sample selection process. Action research should continue in the areas of obesity prevention and intervention, and student services personnel should promote healthy lifestyle choices and a recognition of obesity as a socio-cultural problem.

People high in socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., those who perceive others demand perfection of them) often behave in ways that are incongruent with their efforts to be perfect for others. This research proposes and tests two models that explain why socially prescribed perfectionism is related to self-defeating behaviours (i.e., behaviours with negative effects on the self that are often detrimental to achieving one’s goals). In Study 1, socially prescribed perfectionism was proposed to contribute to a cycle of self-defeat involving perfectionistic discrepancies, perfectionistic self-presentation, depressive affect, and self-defeating behaviours (i.e., binge eating, procrastination, interpersonal conflict). To test the model, data was collected from 317 undergraduates who completed structured online daily diaries. Results of multilevel structural equation modeling largely supported hypothesized relations such that participants high in socially prescribed perfectionism engaged in, or experienced, patterns of self-evaluation, self-presentation, and emotion that contributed to their imperfect, self-defeating behaviours. These behaviours undermined their efforts to be or look perfect for others—creating a sense of deficiency that sets the stage for another cycle of self-defeat. In Study 2, I tested the perfectionism model of binge eating in 218 mother-daughter dyads using a mixed longitudinal and daily diary design. Results largely supported hypotheses suggesting daughters’ socially prescribed perfectionism and mothers’ psychological control contribute indirectly to daughters’ binge eating by generating situations or experiences that trigger binge eating (i.e., discrepancies, depressive affect, and dietary restraint). For young women who believe their mothers rigidly require them to be perfect and whose mothers are demanding and controlling, binge eating appears to provide a means of coping with or escaping from an unhealthy, unsatisfying mother-daughter relationship. Together, the results of Study 1 and Study 2 help to explain why people who strive to be perfect for others often engage in self-defeating behaviours. These findings have numerous implications for theory and research on personality, relationships, and self-defeating behaviours, and for prevention, assessment, and treatment of perfectionism and associated difficulties. These implications, along with the limitations and future directions of this research are discussed.

Binge drinking as one of the alcohol consumption patterns, affects the quality of life of the drinker, significant others and the society in general. It contributes to negative social, economic and health effects on social support networks. This sub-study of the five year trans-disciplinary Alcohol study analysed the existing quantitative data of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The broad aim of the Alcohol study is to gain a better understanding of the alcohol consumption patterns and the causes and consequences of binge drinking amongst South African. The overarching aim of this sub-study was to identify the socioeconomic effects of binge drinking on support networks with a view to contributing to a development of a relevant, integrated and coherent strategy to address alcohol abuse and misuse in the selected areas of the study. The study adopted a mixed methods approach by combining the qualitative and quantitative paradigms to understand the phenomenon of binge drinking and its effects on support networks more adequately. A literature study was undertaken to firstly understand the broader context of the social aspects of alcohol abuse in South Africa, and secondly, to understand social support, social support networks and social network analysis in relation to binge drinking from a conceptual and theoretical framework. Unpacking of the concepts social support, social support networks and social network analysis provided a base to argue that social support networks are affected by binge drinking because the drinker and networks such as family and service providers are interrelated and interdependent. Relevant theoretical frameworks that support this view that person and environment are related and cannot be separated because one affects the other as well, were used to substantiate the argument. Binge drinking was further cross tabulated with other relevant variables to further understand the alcohol consumption patterns. The profile of social problems from the PURE data provided a picture of the challenges in the demarcated areas. As such poverty, low educational level and income were used as markers of socio-economic position. Having identified binge drinking as one pattern of alcohol consumption used in the communities, the study further identified the socio-economic effects experienced by support networks through semi-structured interviews with a schedule and focus groups. The family members and service providers as key informants were identified as support networks. The identified family support network representatives were children, spouse, parents and a sibling and they explained their experiences with a binge drinker. Specific themes of social support were used to describe their experiences of support. These themes are: types of support provided; recipient perception, reciprocal support and behaviour of the provider. The results indicated that support networks are negatively affected by binge drinking because social support is not provided as expected. Performance of roles is compromised and binge drinkers socially constructed views of being justified to abuse of alcohol in that they themselves were exposed to the same situation as children, thus the children are expected to accept their drinking and the socio-economic situation. The community support networks were interviewed to obtain information on the alcohol abuse and socio-economic conditions in the selected communities and to identify the intervention strategies employed to combat the alcohol abuse problems. Suggestions to enhance intervention strategies are proposed focusing on assessment of risk and risk environment, targeted interventions, multi-level synergistic intervention and multi-disciplinary roles and partnerships. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Binge drinking as one of the alcohol consumption patterns, affects the quality of life of the drinker, significant others and the society in general. It contributes to negative social, economic and health effects on social support networks. This sub-study of the five year trans-disciplinary Alcohol study analysed the existing quantitative data of the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The broad aim of the Alcohol study is to gain a better understanding of the alcohol consumption patterns and the causes and consequences of binge drinking amongst South African. The overarching aim of this sub-study was to identify the socioeconomic effects of binge drinking on support networks with a view to contributing to a development of a relevant, integrated and coherent strategy to address alcohol abuse and misuse in the selected areas of the study. The study adopted a mixed methods approach by combining the qualitative and quantitative paradigms to understand the phenomenon of binge drinking and its effects on support networks more adequately. A literature study was undertaken to firstly understand the broader context of the social aspects of alcohol abuse in South Africa, and secondly, to understand social support, social support networks and social network analysis in relation to binge drinking from a conceptual and theoretical framework. Unpacking of the concepts social support, social support networks and social network analysis provided a base to argue that social support networks are affected by binge drinking because the drinker and networks such as family and service providers are interrelated and interdependent. Relevant theoretical frameworks that support this view that person and environment are related and cannot be separated because one affects the other as well, were used to substantiate the argument. Binge drinking was further cross tabulated with other relevant variables to further understand the alcohol consumption patterns. The profile of social problems from the PURE data provided a picture of the challenges in the demarcated areas. As such poverty, low educational level and income were used as markers of socio-economic position. Having identified binge drinking as one pattern of alcohol consumption used in the communities, the study further identified the socio-economic effects experienced by support networks through semi-structured interviews with a schedule and focus groups. The family members and service providers as key informants were identified as support networks. The identified family support network representatives were children, spouse, parents and a sibling and they explained their experiences with a binge drinker. Specific themes of social support were used to describe their experiences of support. These themes are: types of support provided; recipient perception, reciprocal support and behaviour of the provider. The results indicated that support networks are negatively affected by binge drinking because social support is not provided as expected. Performance of roles is compromised and binge drinkers socially constructed views of being justified to abuse of alcohol in that they themselves were exposed to the same situation as children, thus the children are expected to accept their drinking and the socio-economic situation. The community support networks were interviewed to obtain information on the alcohol abuse and socio-economic conditions in the selected communities and to identify the intervention strategies employed to combat the alcohol abuse problems. Suggestions to enhance intervention strategies are proposed focusing on assessment of risk and risk environment, targeted interventions, multi-level synergistic intervention and multi-disciplinary roles and partnerships. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p.114-130) and index.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at El Paso, 2008. / Title from title screen. Vita. CD-ROM. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-06, page: 3545. Advisers: John R. Herbold; David Gimeno. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Waikato, 2010. / Title from PDF cover (viewed July 30, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 293-326)

A associação entre consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e a incidência de hipertensão pode ser dependente do padrão de consumo e raça. Em um estudo de coorte de base populacional, foram entrevistados no domicílio 1089 adultos, selecionados ao acaso. A pressão arterial e medidas antropométricas foram aferidas de acordo com recomendações padronizadas. A quantidade de álcool consumida foi avaliada por um questionário de quantidade-freqüência. Binge drinking foi definido pelo consumo de 5 ou mais drinques em uma ocasião para homens ou 4 drinques para mulheres, e abuso de álcool, por consumo de 30 ou mais gramas por dia em homens ou 15 g ou mais em mulheres. Os entrevistadores classificaram a cor da pele dos participantes em brancos e não-brancos. Casos incidentes de hipertensão foram caracterizados por PA ≥ 140/90 mmHg ou uso de medicamento anti-hipertensivo. A razão de risco (RR) para incidência de hipertensão arterial foi computada em modelo de Cox. Entre os 589 indivíduos normotensos na entrevista basal, foram identificados 127 casos incidentes de hipertensão, após um seguimento de 5,6 ± 1,1 anos. Não houve associação de binge drinking e dependência de álcool (CAGE) com a incidência de hipertensão. A RR ajustada (idade, educação) para a incidência de hipertensão (IC 95% ) foi significativa apenas para indivíduos não-brancos que consumiam 30 g ou mais de etanol por dia: 7,3 (1,4 - 39,3). A pressão arterial sistólica aumentou entre os abusadores não brancos 16,1 ± 3,5 mmHg, em comparação com 4,9 ± 1,5 mmHg entre os abusadores brancos (P= 0,004). Indivíduos com ancestrais africanos que consumisam grandes quantidades de álcool apresentaram maior risco de desenvolverem hipertensão arterial. Este risco não foi explicado por binge drinking ou dependência de álcool. / The association between alcoholic beverage consumption and incidence of hypertension may be dependent of the pattern of consumption and race. In a population-based cohort study, 1089 adults, interviewed at home, had BP and anthropometric measurements carried out according to standardized recommendations. Alcohol consumption was ascertained by an amount-frequency questionnaire. Binge drinking was defined by consumption of 5 or more drinks in one occasion for male or 4 drinks for women, and abuse of alcohol by consumption of 30 or more grams per day in men or 15 g or more in women. Interviewers classified the skin color of participants in white and non-white. Incident cases of hypertension were characterized by BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg or use of hypertension medication. Hazard ratios (HR) were computed in a Cox model. Among 589 normotensive individuals in the baseline visit, 127 incident cases of hypertension were identified, after a follow up of 5.6 ± 1.1 years. Binge drinking and alcohol dependency (CAGE) were not associated with the incidence of hypertension. Adjusted (age, education) HR for the incidence of hypertension (95% CI) was significant only for non-white individuals who consumed 30 g or more of ethanol per day: 7.3 (1.4 to 39.3). Systolic blood pressure of black abusers increased 16.1 ± 3.5, in comparison with 4.9 ± 1.5 mmHg among white abusers (P = 0.004). Individuals with an African ancestry, who consumed larger amounts of ethanol, were at higher risk of developing hypertension. This risk was not explained by binge drinking or addiction to alcohol.