Youngeun Ku

Bio: Youngeun Ku is an academic researcher from University of Auckland. The author has contributed to research in topics: Eating disorders & Perfectionism (psychology). The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 10 citations.

Perfectionism and eating disturbances in Korean immigrants : Moderating effects of acculturation and ethnic identity

Abstract: Korean society highly values personal appearance. Given the established links between perfectionism and eating disorders in Western countries, the present project investigated such links and the extent to which these were moderated by the acculturation patterns of the participants. Korean immigrants to New Zealand (N = 123) completed measures of perfectionism, ethnic identity, eating disorders, and social desirability. Positive and negative perfectionism were associated with eating-disorder symptoms. For males, but not females, negative perfectionism was more strongly associated with increased body satisfaction only among those who identified strongly as Korean.

An examination of ethnic variations in perfectionism and interpersonal influences as predictors of eating disturbances: A look at Asian and European American females.

Abstract: This study assessed ethnic variations in perfectionism, interpersonal influences, and eating disturbances, namely, drive for thinness and bulimic symptoms, among 139 Asian American and 159 European American females (Mage 19.55 years). Results of comparative analyses indicated significant normative differences in perfectionism. Specifically, Asian American females, compared with European American females, reported greater parental expectations and parental criticism. Of note, when we assessed the usefulness of a prediction model that included perfectionism and interpersonal influences, perfectionism failed to account for significant variance in drive for thinness in Asian American females. Alternatively, interpersonal influences were found to account for robust amounts of unique variance in eating disturbances across both Asian and European American females. Some implications of the present findings for understanding ethnic differences in predictors of eating disturbances are discussed.