A qualitative study of perfectionism among self-identified perfectionist women with nonmetastatic breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background: Receiving a cancer diagnosis can lead to various psychosocial disturbances. Perfectionism is associated with several psychological problems in the general population, but its role in cancer remains to be assessed. This exploratory qualitative descriptive study aims to examine the role of perfectionism as a vulnerability factor underlying the psychosocial difficulties encountered by people with cancer. Methods: A total of 10 women with nonmetastatic breast cancer who self-identified as perfectionists were recruited at the end of their radiation therapy to take part in a focus group or an individual interview. Results: The hybrid inductive-deductive thematic analysis revealed the following themes: (1) various dimensions of perfectionism; (2) low self-compassion; (3) control seeking; (4) low self-disclosure; (5) low social support seeking; (6) various coping strategies; (7) relative stability of perfectionism after cancer; (8) need to be a perfect patient; (9) negative psychological impacts; and (10) low interest in an intervention targeting perfectionism. Conclusions: This exploratory study psychosocial difficulties that may be related to perfectionism in patients with breast cancer, from both a systemic and an individual perspective.