Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism in Relation to Orthorexic Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion...

Background/Objectives: An excessive focus on the consumption of "healthy" or "clean" foods may develop into an obsessive pattern of eating behavior. Orthorexia, a relatively recent construct within the field of eating and feeding disorders, reflects this maladaptive preoccupation with dietary purity. Although orthorexia has received increasing empirical attention, its etiological pathways and maintaining mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Previous research has identified perfectionism as a potential risk factor contributing to the development and persistence of orthorexic tendencies. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the association between perfectionism and orthorexic behaviors and to explore the mediating role of self-compassion, conceptualized as the capacity to respond to personal suffering with kindness, mindfulness, and a sense of shared humanity, in this relationship. Methods: The study sample consisted of 227 participants aged 18 to 55 years. Measures included a self-designed sociodemographic questionnaire, the Bratman Orthorexia Test (BOT), the ORTO-15, the Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism Questionnaire (AMPQ), and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-PL). Results: Findings confirmed a positive association between maladaptive perfectionism and orthorexic behaviors, as well as relationships between both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism and various dimensions of self-compassion. Self-compassion and its dimensions were also found to mediate the relationship between perfectionism and orthorexic behaviors. Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of both perfectionism and self-compassion as factors associated with orthorexic behaviors. Given that self-compassion is linked to mental health and may serve as a buffer against self-critical cognitive processes, its assessment is particularly relevant, especially as research suggests it is a skill that can be cultivated.