Intentional Imperfection Program: A pilot randomised controlled trial to help university students manage perfectionism

Abstract

Abstract Given that perfectionism has been associated with interpersonal, academic, and mental health difficulties in university students, helping them manage their perfectionism is crucial. This pilot trial examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of an online perfectionism program designed to target the mechanisms that link perfectionism to psychological distress. Seventy first-year psychology students from Macquarie University with high levels of perfectionism were recruited into this two-arm pilot trial and randomised to either the intervention (i.e., perfectionism program) or attention placebo control (i.e., lifestyle program) condition. We assessed indicators of feasibility and acceptability, as well as measures related to perfectionism, psychological distress, emotion regulation skills, interpersonal and academic functioning at baseline, one-month post treatment, and three-month follow-up (blinded outcome assessment). Our analyses revealed that, while participants expressed overall satisfaction with the program, there was low engagement with it (Mcompletion rate=36.23%), and retention in the study was low (response rates for post-treatment: 65.71% and follow-up: 48.57%). Bearing this in mind, our linear mixed model analyses revealed greater reductions in perfectionistic traits and cognitions, interpersonal hostility, and loneliness, as well as increases in self-compassion in the intervention group compared to the control group at post-treatment and/or follow-up. However, we did not observe statistically significant changes in other important treatment outcomes (e.g.,psychological distress). Given these findings, adjustments to improve engagement and retention should occur before proceeding with a larger, definitive trial. This trial was retrospectively registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no. ACTRN12622000960752).