Prediction of Bulimia Nervosa Based on Maladaptive Perfectionism and Alexithymia in Employed Women
Keywords:
Bulimia nervosa, maladaptive perfectionism, alexithymia, eating disordersAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the predictive role of maladaptive perfectionism and alexithymia in bulimia nervosa among employed female teachers.
Methodology: This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design with a predictive approach. The statistical population consisted of all employed female teachers working in Tehran Department of Education during the 2024–2025 academic year, from whom 384 participants were selected using multistage cluster sampling. Research instruments included the Fairburn and Beglin Bulimia Nervosa Questionnaire (2008), the Perfectionism Scale developed by Bieling et al. (2004), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 26 with a significance level set at 0.05.
Findings: Results indicated a significant positive relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and bulimia nervosa (r = .341, p < .01), as well as between alexithymia and bulimia nervosa (r = .298, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that maladaptive perfectionism and alexithymia significantly predicted bulimia nervosa (p < .01), jointly explaining 39% of the variance in bulimia nervosa symptoms. Standardized beta coefficients revealed that alexithymia had a stronger predictive contribution compared to maladaptive perfectionism.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the central role of cognitive vulnerability and emotional processing deficits in the emergence of bulimic symptoms. Elevated maladaptive perfectionism and impaired emotional awareness increase susceptibility to maladaptive eating behaviors; therefore, psychological interventions targeting perfectionistic cognitions and emotional regulation skills may contribute to prevention and symptom reduction in bulimia nervosa.
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