Eating disorders and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors are characterized by an over-evaluation of weight and shape, under or over-controlled eating, as well as engagement in compensatory behaviors. The disorders are associated with psychological suffering, acute and long-term health impairments, a high rate of suicide attempts as well as an increased risk of mortality. Knowledge regarding the etiology of eating disorders is limited and based on current models it is not possible to adequately predict either who will get an eating disorder or who will recover. This lack of understanding has hindered the development of effective prevention and treatment interventions. The aim of the present thesis was to contribute towards an increased understanding of eating disorders and disordered eating attitudes and behavior through the collection of norms and psychometric data, investigation of risk factors and their roles, and focusing on the understudied group of males with eating disorders. Five studies were included. Specifically, Study I focused on collecting general population and clinical norms on the well-established Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Clinical Impairment Assessment Questionnaire (CIA). Study II both collected general population norms on, and investigated psychometric properties of, the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ-8C), an instrument intended to assess body dissatisfaction. Study III focused on the role of perfectionism (an established risk factor for eating disorders) as a possible mediator or moderator between body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behavior and attitudes. Finally, in Study IV and V attention was placed on males. In Study IV the specific aim was to compare the clinical characteristics between young males and females with eating disorders while in study V the specific aim was to explore variables associated with disordered eating among young males based on a compilation of factors known to play a role among females as well as factors thought to be uniquely associated with males, such as sexual orientation and drive for muscularity. A greater understanding of eating disorders will help reduce the stigma that is associated with eating disorders, easing the way for affected individuals to seek help and ultimately improve the development of effective prevention and intervention.

The present study attempted to replicate a previously documented typology of perfectionism in a sample of college students (N=216). Furthermore, this study sought to determine whether a set of predictor variables comprised of selected subscales from the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Scales (PALS) and the College Adjustment Scales (CAS) could be used to reliably predict groups of perfectionists. Students' scores from the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) were entered into a two-step cluster analysis, which revealed four clusters: Mixed-Maladaptive (N=62), Pervasive (N=43), Mixed-Adaptive (N=53), and Non-Perfectionists (N=32). A standard discriminant analysis was then calculated, with measures of achievement goal orientation and psychological symptomatology serving as the independent variables, and perfectionism cluster group serving as the dependent variable. This analysis yielded two statistically significant discriminant functions. The first function, labeled Maladaptive Parental Influences, was comprised of two subscales which were related to students' perceptions of their relations with their parents. Pervasive perfectionists showed the highest mean value on the first function, while Non-Perfectionists were lowest. The second function, Intrapersonal Adaptive Outcomes, consisted of a total of seven subscales, four of which measured problem areas for the student, and showed a positive correlation with the overall function value. The other three subscales assessed traditionally adaptive-oriented concepts. Moreover, higher scores on these adaptive-oriented subscales showed a negative correlation with the overall function value, suggesting a lower function value reflected a healthier profile for the individual. As such, Mixed-Adaptive perfectionists showed the lowest mean value on the second function, while Mixed-Maladaptive perfectionists had the highest value. Of particular note, the Performance-Avoid subscale from the PALS was not found to significantly discriminate among the four perfectionism clusters, a surprising result given the conceptual similarities that the two constructs share with one another. However, an interesting new avenue in the study of the development of perfectionism is offered in the current study, whereby students' perceptions of their parents' achievement goals for them were empirically linked to their own manifestations of perfectionism, which had not been previously documented in the literature to the researcher's knowledge. / Department of Educational Psychology

This study examined the relationship between perfectionism and parenting styles among 194 male youth soccer players (M age = 13.64 years). Participants completed the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-2 (Sport-MPS-2: Gotwals & Dunn, 2009) and the Parenting Style Inventory-2 (PSI-2: Darling & Toyokawa, 1997). Factor analyses conducted on PSI-2 data resulted in a single factor that represented positive aspects of parenting and was labeled child-centered parenting (cf. Maccoby & Martin, 1983). Correlational results revealed significant and theoretically meaningful relationships between various perfectionism dimensions and child-centered parenting. Cluster analyses supported the existence of three groups of perfectionists: adaptive-, maladaptive-, and non-perfectionists. Significant between-cluster differences on perceptions of child-centered parenting were obtained (ps < .001), with maladaptive perfectionists perceiving their parents as being less child-centered than both adaptive- and non-perfectionists. Results are discussed surrounding the potential impact that parenting styles may have on the development of perfectionism in youth athletes.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-124). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR19686

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-102).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wyoming, 2006. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 16, 2008). Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Auburn University, Counseling Psychology. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-82).

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-75). Also available on the Internet.