Relationship Perfectionism, Dysphoria, and Hostile Interpersonal Behaviors

Abstract

Problematic interpersonal behaviors and their consequences for relationships with others have been implicated in the maintenance and onset of depression. The mechanism leading to aversive social behaviors was examined in this study using a sample of dysphoric and nondysphoric undergraduate female students. Specifically, we examined two questions: (a) Is relationship perfectionism associated with depression?; and (b) Does relationship perfectionism mediate the relation between depression and aversive interpersonal behaviors? Using a self-report measure of relationship perfectionism, results revealed that perfectionistic expectations and standards for relationships were higher for the dysphoric than the nondysphoric, never-depressed women. Moreover, perfectionistic relationship expectations for others, in particular, partially explained the relation between dysphoria and hostile interpersonal behaviors. These findings are discussed in terms of past studies of perfectionism and depression and in terms of current conceptualizations of perfectionism and depressive social behaviors.