Perfectionism and eating disorder symptomatology in Chinese immigrants: Mediating and moderating effects of ethnic identity and acculturation

Abstract

Three hundred and one Chinese drawn from the University of Auckland and local communities in New Zealand completed an anonymous questionnaire consisting of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS), the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) and the short form of the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). Negative Perfectionism significantly predicted more eating disorder symptoms as measured by the EDI. A strong positive evaluation of other ethnic groups together with high Positive Perfectionism predicted lower body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness, whereas the opposite was true for a more negative evaluation of other groups and high Positive Perfectionism. A strong sense of belonging and attachment towards the Chinese culture and valuing other ethnic groups were found to mediate the relationship between Positive Perfectionism and eating disorder symptoms, predicting a lower sense of interpersonal distrust. Immigrant Chinese showed better adaptation with strong ethnic attachment as well as valuing the mainstream culture. Results also suggest that promoting Positive Perfectionism together with strong ethnic identification and values towards the mainstream culture may be advantageous to Chinese immigrants.

Keywords:

• Chinese
• eating disorder
• perfectionism
• ethnic identity
• acculturation
• immigrants

Notes

¹ Items loaded onto the respective factors as shown by the item numbers from Phinney (1992): “Sense of Belonging and Attachment” – 3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 20; “Values towards Other Groups: – 4, 7, 9, 15, 17, 19; “Ethnic Behaviours” – 1, 2, 5, 13, 16.

² To test for moderating effects in regression analyses, the continuous variables were centered (converting the variable to have a mean of zero by subtracting the mean score from the raw score) before the interaction term was calculated (West, Aiken & Krull, 1996). As a result, the centered main effects and their interaction term were entered into the regression analyses.