Perfectionism and compulsive exercise among female exercisers: High personal standards or self-criticism?

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of the high personal standards and self-criticism dimensions of perfectionism with compulsive exercise. Ninety-seven young women who exercise regularly completed measures of perfectionistic high personal standards, self-criticism, and compulsive exercise. Hierarchical multiple regressions analyses indicated that self-criticism substantially accounted for the relationship between high personal standards and compulsive exercise. Compulsive exercisers may require therapeutic interventions that address self-critical tendencies.