Relation Between Self-esteem, Perfectionism, and Orthorexia Nervosa

Jing Li

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.HT29521

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

Relation Between Self-esteem, Perfectionism, and Orthorexia Nervosa

Research Article

Open Access

Relation Between Self-esteem, Perfectionism, and Orthorexia Nervosa

Jing Li ^1*

¹ University of Southampton

^*Corresponding author: Jl19n23@soton.ac.uk

Published on 11 November 2025

CHR Vol.97

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-529-5

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-530-1

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Abstract

Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) is a dietary phenomenon that has garnered significant attention in recent years. Its core characteristic is an excessive preoccupation with healthy eating, manifesting as strict dietary restrictions and frequently accompanied by psychological distress. The study uses a review method for literature from different cultures, fields and theoretical literature, in which the relationship between and the impact of self-esteem and perfectionism on ON were examined. And this review can show the vital role of self-esteem and perfectionism for the mechanism of ON in terms of comparing the design of the study, sample of study and findings of the study with its limitations. It is very apparent from the findings that almost every study points out that lower self-esteem is related to high ON tendencies. However, cross-sectional research, such as that which was performed on both the Australian sample and the American sample, did not show any association that was meaningful. In fact, it went so far as to show that ON individuals were better in terms of their self-respect. In addition, many studies have shown a strong positive relationship between perfectionism and ON, with maladaptive perfectionism having the strongest relationship. It is more important that perfectionism not merely directly predict the development of ON but also may indirectly predict ON through perfectionism-related psychosocial and behavioural characteristics. All these results together indicate that self-esteem and perfectionism play an important role in the psychological processes of ON. Nevertheless, there are differences between studies. In addition, most studies use cross-sectional designs with specific samples and therefore rely mainly on correlational findings to make causal inferences. Future studies should use longitudinal and cross-cultural designs, including extra conceivable mediating and moderating variables so as to more completely describe the ways in which self-esteem and perfectionism influence ON.

Keywords:

Self-esteem, Perfectionism, Orthorexia Nervosa

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