Personality traits and eating disorders: Mediating effects of self-esteem and perfectionism

The purpose of this ex post facto study has been to test a structural model of the mediating roles of self-esteem and perfectionism in the relationship between personality traits and eating disorders (ED). The sample consisted of 155 women (from 18 to 31 years). Ninety three met the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for some type of ED, 31 women formed the symptomatic group, with high risk of ED, and 31 women, the non-symptomatic group, without known pathology or alteration of eating behaviours. The instruments used were the MCMI-II, EDI-2, EAT-40 and BSQ. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modelling by means of LISREL 8.71. The estimated model fit satisfactorily. The results confirm the relationship between schizoid, paranoid, self-destructive and borderline personality traits with ED, the role of self-esteem as the main Mediating variable in the effect exerted by certain personality traits in ED, and perfectionism as a mediating variable of the effect of borderline personality traits on ED and self-esteem.