Background and purpose: This study aimed at investigating the relationship between eating disorders with perfectionism and cognitive distortions in female students.

Materials and methods: The study population included 6289 female students in Sari Islamic Azad University. We performed a descriptive correlational study in 500 female students who were selected by random cluster sampling. The research instrument included the Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ; Coker and Roger 1990), Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS; Terry-Short et al., 1995) and Albert Ellis`s Cognitive distortions questionnaire. Data analysis was done applying descriptive statistics methods, Pearson's correlation and multivariate regression test in SPSS ver.17.

Results: The results showed no significant relationship between concerns about weight and anorexia nervosa with perfectionism (r=-0.005, r=0.05, p>0.05). There was a positive relationship between bulimia nervosa and perfectionism (P< 0.01, r= 0.203). There was a positive relationship between worries about weight, anorexia nervosa and anorexia nervosa with cognitive distortions (r =0.268, r =0.505, r = 0.224, respectively, P <0.01). There was a positive relationship between negative perfectionism and eating disorders (r= 0.303, P< 0.01), and a negative relationship between positive perfectionism and eating disorders (r=-0.10, P< 0.05). Perfectionism and cognitive distortions were able to predict eating disorders (β= 0.483, β= 0.075, respectively, P< 0.01).

Conclusion: Eating disorders are directly associated with individual’s thoughts and cognition, therefore, cognitive therapy could be of great use in treating these patients.