Forms of competitive attitude and achievement orientation in relation to disordered eating

The primary focus in this study was an examination of the differential contributions of two different forms of competitive attitude to disordered eating in a nonclinical sample of Caucasian university women. The results showed that it is not competition per se that is a primary contributor to eating disorders, but rather a particular form of competitive attitude. Specifically, hypercompetitiveness was related strongly to eating disorder symptoms, but personal development competitiveness was unrelated. A second purpose considered the relationship of context-specific measures of achievement to eating disorder symptoms. Disordered eating was associated positively with the need to achieve in appearance, but not to a need to achieve in academics and career. Discussion centered on the potential usefulness of these findings in the treatment of women who are eating disordered. It also argued for changes in a socialization process which often leads to the development of hypercompetitive attitudes and an overvaluing of beauty in American women.