Examination of Perfectionism and Self-concept Constructs Across Stages of Eating Disorder Recovery in Men: An Exploratory Study

Objective: This study examined perfectionism and self-concept constructs across eating disorder recovery stages in men, using a conceptualization of recovery that encompasses physical, behavioral, and cognitive recovery.

Method: Participants were 35 men with an eating disorder history (M = 26.60 years, SD = 10.81), categorized as in full recovery, in partial recovery, or with a current eating disorder diagnosis/pathology, and 27 men with no eating disorder history (controls; M = 26.44 years, SD = 10.08). Data for determining recovery status were collected from surveys, interviews, and measured weight and height; perfectionism and self-concept were assessed via surveys.

Results: Among the perfectionism constructs, the greatest magnitude of effect sizes involving the fully recovered group was for socially prescribed perfectionism where this group had lower levels of perfectionism than the eating disorder diagnosis/pathology group (Hedge's g = -1.72) or the partially recovered group (Hedge's g = -1.56). For the self-concept constructs, effect sizes involving the fully recovered group and the other recovery status groups were all large (absolute values: 0.76-1.58) and reflected a large magnitude of difference with fully recovered men having higher self-esteem and self-efficacy and lower social comparison than men with a current eating disorder diagnosis or pathology or those partially recovered.

Conclusion: Full recovery in men was associated with healthy self-concept constructs and with low socially prescribed perfectionism. Future research with larger samples should seek to replicate these findings and, using a longitudinal design, examine these constructs as potential predictors or maintenance factors of comprehensive eating disorder recovery in men.