The Relationships Between Alexithymia, Perfectionism, Self-Esteem, Ethnicity and Body Image Disturbance

Abstract

Body image disturbance is a pervasive problem in this country that is associated with eating disorder pathology, depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems. Very few studies have attempted to examine body distortion (the more severe form of body dissatisfaction) as it relates to alexithymia, perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation, self-esteem, ethnicity, and ethnic identity. This study explored the relationships between body satisfaction/dissatisfaction and body distortion with alexithymia, self-esteem, and perfectionism and ethnicity variables through the use of the following measures: Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale (PSPS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), Appearance Evaluation and Body Areas Satisfaction subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), Photographic Figure Rating Scale (PFRS), and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT). Participants included 151 females of all ethnicities between the ages of 18 and 65 (Mage = 29.98 years). Results indicated that self-esteem was the most significant predictor of body satisfaction. Additionally, greater body satisfaction was associated with lower levels of alexithymia, perfectionism, and perfectionistic self-presentation and higher levels of ethnic identity. Body satisfaction also was found to mediate the relationship between ethnic identity and body distortion. Further, body satisfaction was found to vary based on age, parent education, and parent SES. These findings present important information on psychosocial factors which influence body dissatisfaction.