Perceptions of Parental Communication Orientation, Perfectionism, and Disordered Eating Behaviors of Sons and Daughters

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of perceived parental communication orientation and individual perfectionism on late adolescent offspring's maladaptive eating behaviors using a nonclinical sample (N = 424). College students' perceptions of their communication patterns with parents, self- and parentally prescribed perfectionism, and perceptions of personal control were measured to explore possible associations among these variables and whether they, in combination, predicted maladaptive eating. Results revealed that 23% of the sample participated in maladaptive eating behaviors; in addition, a father–child conformity communication pattern and paternally prescribed perfectionism predicted maladaptive eating within this sample when controlling for individual factors such as offspring's perfectionism and perceived loss of personal control. These findings suggest that father–child communicative interaction that emphasizes conformity to high paternal standards may increase offspring's risk of developing maladaptive eating behaviors.