Does Clinical Perfection Moderate the Effectiveness of a Meaning in Life Intervention for Eating Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Hansel, Joshua (2025) Does Clinical Perfection Moderate the Effectiveness of a Meaning in Life Intervention for Eating Disorders: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Eating disorders are severe mental illnesses with significant impacts on physical health and quality of life, existing treatments often face challenges such as high dropout rates and relapse. Research highlights meaning in life and clinical perfectionism as transdiagnostic factors influencing eating disorder outcomes. This randomized controlled trial investigates whether clinical perfectionism moderates the effectiveness of a meaning-centered psychotherapy for eating disorders intervention (MCP-ED), covering six online individual sessions over six weeks, in enhancing meaning in life. It was hypothesized that MCP-ED would significantly increase meaning in life and that clinical perfectionism would moderate this effect. Using a randomized controlled trial design, 130 female participants with high weight and shape concerns were randomly assigned to either the MCP-ED intervention or a waiting-list control group. Meaning in life was assessed using the meaning in life questionnaire (MLQ-P), and clinical perfectionism was measured using the clinical perfectionism questionnaire (CPQ). Results showed a significant increase in meaning in life for the intervention group, no evidence was found that clinical perfectionism moderated the intervention's effectiveness. These findings indicate that MCP-ED is a promising approach for enhancing meaning in life among individuals with subclinical eating disorder symptoms, regardless of their levels of perfectionism. Future research should explore its application in clinical populations and examine long-term effects to assess its broader therapeutic potential and impact on eating disorder severity.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Frey, M.I. and Jong, Peter J. de
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	07 Feb 2025 12:22
Last Modified:	07 Feb 2025 12:44
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4613

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