4 - (OP21) Evaluation of Two Transdiagnostic Factors in Exercising Adults: Core Eating Psychopathology and Perfectionism

This study had two aims: 1) to evaluate the association between core eating psychopathology (CEP) and perfectionism, 2) to examine sex- and gender-related differences in these variables among exercising adults in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. We employed a cross-sectional design and collected the data online between October and November 2025, through a battery of questionnaires administered via Google Forms by 11 psychology undergraduate students and 12 licensed psychologists. The sample included 418 participants aged 18-40 years (203 women, M = 27.39; 215 men, M = 27.30; or, 203 female, M = 27.47; 211 male, M = 27.24; 4 non-binary, M = 25.50) who signed the informed consent form and completed the Scale of Self-Worth Based on Body Weight and Shape (BoWaS: women α = .940, ω = .940; men α = .898, ω = .899; female α = .939, ω = .939; male α = .898, ω = .899), for CEP; and the abbreviated Mexican version of the Almost Perfect Scale–Revised (APS-R-MX: women α = .955, ω = .955; men α = .945, ω = .945; female α = .954, ω = .954; male α = .947, ω = .947), which measures perfectionism. Results indicated a positive association between CEP and perfectionism (rs = .30, p < .05), which was stronger in women (rs = .42) than in men (rs = .16); and in female participants (rs = .41) than in male (rs = .18). Regarding aim 1, women reported higher scores in CEP (M= 31.72) than men (M= 29.65) (t = 2.17, df = 416, p < .05); and female participants (M = 31.84) than male (M = 29.54) (t = 2.38, df = 412, p < .05). In contrast, we found no significant differences for perfectionism between women (M= 33.04) and men (M= 30.84) (t = 1.57, df = 416, p = .12); nor between female (M = 32.90) and male participants (M = 31.01) (t = 1.33, df = 412, p = 0.18). Regarding aim one, the stronger association between CEP and perfectionism observed in women and female participants may reflect a greater integration of perfectionistic standards with shape and weight-based self-worth in contexts where physical appearance, performance, and self-control are socially reinforced. The weaker association in men and male participants suggests that other variables may reflect other maintaining mechanisms. In relation to aim two, the higher levels of CEP in women and in female participants highlight the role of sex and gender in the expression of eating psychopathology; whereas similar levels of perfectionism across groups may indicate that clinical perfectionism could be transdiagnostic, but its impact could be different between specific groups. These results highlight the need for sex- and gender-sensitive and culturally meaningful CBT interventions targeting core mechanisms underlying eating psychopathology in physically active populations.