(PS7-28) The Moderating Role of Perfectionism in the Associations Between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and both Body Dysmorphia Symptoms and Eating Pathology

Abstract Text: Perfectionism, broadly defined as having unreasonably high personal standards accompanied by excessively critical self-evaluations (Frost et al., 1990), is a transdiagnostic factor implicated in a range of psychological disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), and eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa (AN). Research suggests that perfectionism contributes to the etiology and maintenance of OCD (Frost et al., 2002), BDD (Schieber et al., 2013), and AN (Longo et al., 2021) with individuals exhibiting rigid standards, overconcern with mistakes, and intolerance of uncertainty. In OCD, it is linked to compulsive checking and “not just right” experiences (Moretz & McKay, 2009). In BDD, perfectionism may manifest as a hyper-focus on perceived defects and flaws in appearance (Phillips, 2009). In AN, perfectionism may manifest as extreme control over eating behavior and an intense fear of failure (Fairburn et al., 2003; Shafran et al., 2002). Given the established relevance of perfectionism to each condition separately, a targeted investigation is needed to clarify the specific role it plays in the associations among these disorders.

The proposed presentation is based on a two-study examination. In Study 1 (data collection complete), undergraduate students (n = 465) completed a questionnaire battery, including the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory – Revised (OCI-R; Foa, 2002), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26; Garner & Garfinkel, 1997), and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS; Frost et al., 1990). In Study 2 (data collection in progress), undergraduate students complete a questionnaire battery, including the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (DOCS; Abramowitz et al., 2010), the Body Dysmorphic Disorder – Symptom Scale (Wilhem et al., 2016), the EAT-26, and the FMPS. Planned moderation analyses will use Model 1 of PROCESS macros (Hayes, 2012) to test whether perfectionism influences the strength of association between (H1) obsessive-compulsive symptoms and body dysmorphia symptoms and (H2) obsessive-compulsive symptoms and AN symptoms. This two-study investigation provides an opportunity to examine the replicability of perfectionism’s moderating role in these associations, addressing concerns about the consistency of these effects across samples. The major hypothesis is that perfectionism will significantly moderate these associations. Supporting such a finding would contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the observed similarities among these conditions – beyond simple estimates of comorbidity. Anticipated findings from this study may inform clinical interventions by highlighting perfectionism as a potential treatment target.