Explaining the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Binge Eating Disorder in Female College Students: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation

Objective: Binge eating disorder is a type of eating behavior disorder that occurs with voluntary limitations in eating food. It has a psychological and social origin and is one of the concerns of the World Health Organization. The present study explains the relationship between perfectionism and binge eating disorder in female college students and the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation. Methods: In this descriptive-correlation study, data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method. The statistical population of this research consisted of all the female college students of Isfahan City, Iran, in October and November ۲۰۲۲. A total of ۲۱۴ students were selected by the available sampling method. The participants answered the perfectionism inventory (PI, ۲۰۰۴), the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ, ۲۰۰۱), and the binge eating severity (BES, ۱۹۸۲). The data were analyzed using EMOS ۲۲ software and SEM. Results: The results showed that adaptive cognitive regulation strategies could negatively mediate the relationship between adaptive perfectionism and eating disorder (P<۰.۰۱, β= -۰.۱۱۳) while positively and significantly mediating the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and eating disorder (P<۰.۰۱, β=۰.۱۲۴). Conclusion: Based on the results, physicians and therapists can incorporate cognitive regulation techniques into eating disorder treatments and help individuals manage perfectionism and negative thoughts. Additionally, educational programs can be developed in counseling centers, schools, and universities to empower individuals to recognize signs and seek help promptly.