Perfectionism, academic stress and social anxiety in female medical students and the risk for eating disorders

Background: Both perfectionism and social anxiety have been described in patients with eating disorders (ED) and medical students. Academic stress also can increase the risk of developing ED. Aim: To analyze the dimensions of perfectionism, social anxiety, and academic stress associated with the risk of developing ED in female medical students. Material and Methods: The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, the SISCO academic stress inventory and the Eating Attitudes Test-26, were applied to 163 female medical students from all levels of the career. The groups with and without risk of ED were compared according to these variables. Results: Twenty-four percent of respondents were at risk of ED. There were significant differences between scores of perfectionism, social anxiety, and academic stress between respondents with and without risk for ED. In general, there was a significant correlation among the variables. In a multivariate analysis, the predictors of ED risk were the perception of academic stress (Odds ratio (OR) 1.09; 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.03-1.16) and personal standards in the context of perfectionism (OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.06-1.27). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of female medical students were at risk for ED. The risk of ED was determined mainly by academic stress and personal standards in the context of perfectionism. In this sample, social anxiety did not play a relevant role.