Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which rumination mediates the relationships between self-criticism and disordered eating behaviors. In this study, 489 undergraduate students participated and were asked to complete questionnaires corresponding to the self-criticism scale, Ruminative Response Scale (K-RRS) and the disordered eating behavior scale (KEAT-26). The results obtained through structural equation modeling confirmed the validity of the complete mediation model of rumination between self-criticism and disordered eating behaviors. Additionally, the differences in the two subtypes of rumination in the proposed mediating model were examined. The results confirmed the complete mediating effect of both Brooding and Reflection. The results suggest that if people with self-criticism ruminate excessively, then they are apt to show disordered eating behaviors. Finally, the implications and limitations of this study were addressed and suggestions made for future studies.