Abstract
This study examined the relationship between perfectionism and subjective well-being (SWB) and dimensions of social problem-solving ability. The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R), Social problem-solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey of 202 Chinese adults. The results found that: (1) Subjective well-being was significantly negatively correlated with the discrepancy dimension of perfectionism and was also significantly negatively correlated with the negative problem orientation of social problem-solving. (2) The discrepancy dimension reflected in maladaptive perfectionism was significantly positively correlated with the negative aspects of social problem solving (Negative Problem Orientation, NPO; Impulsivity-Carelessness Style, ICS; and Avoidance Style, AS). (3) The negative problem orientation (NPO) dimension in SPSI-R, as a partial mediator, mediated the negative correlation between maladaptive perfectionism and subjective well-being. In conclusion, perfectionism and social problem-solving ability had different degrees of influence on the SWB of Chinese adults, and attention could be paid to dealing with discrepancy and how to reduce negative problem-solving tendency in education and clinical practice.
Highlights
Perfectionism seems to handicap the mental healthy, quality of life and happiness of individual (Hill et al, 2010)
The results show that all dimensions of Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) and Social problem-solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R) have good reliability, except for the dimension Impassivity/Carelessness Style (ICS) of the SPSI-R was 0.62, which was lower than 0.70
The Order dimension in APS-R significantly correlates with all five dimensions of SPSI-R; Positive Problem Orientation, PPO (r = 0.30, p < 0.01); Negative Problem Orientation, negative problem orientation (NPO) (r = –0.17, p < 0.05); Rational Problem Sloving, Rational Problem Solving (RPS) (r = 0.43, p < 0.01); Impulsivity/Carelessness style, Impulsive/Careless Style (ICS) (r = –0.21, p < 0.01); Avoidance Style, AS (r = –0.30, p < 0.01)
Summary
Perfectionism seems to handicap the mental healthy, quality of life and happiness of individual (Hill et al, 2010). It is critical to investigate the underlying mediators between perfectionism and subjective well-being (SWB) to improve an individual’s mental health. Perfectionism could be defined as setting exceptionally high personal standards or expectations of actual performance with the judgement about one’s self-worth based on the ability to meet these criteria (Burns, 1980; Fong and Yuen, 2014). Evidence have confirmed that perfectionism consists of both maladaptive and adaptive aspects (Parker and Adkins, 1995; Wang and Zhang, 2017). Perfectionism consists of three dimensions, Discrepancy, High Standards and Order (Slaney et al, 2001). The gap between unreachable standards and actual performance leads to accompanying
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