Dimensions Of Perfectionism Research Articles

Disentangling the Common Variance of Perfectionistic Strivings and Perfectionistic Concerns: A Bifactor Model of Perfectionism.

Perfectionism nowadays is frequently understood as a multidimensional personality trait with two higher-order dimensions of perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. While perfectionistic concerns are robustly found to correlate with negative outcomes and psychological malfunctioning, findings concerning the outcomes of perfectionistic strivings are inconsistent. There is evidence that perfectionistic strivings relate to psychological maladjustment on the one hand but to positive outcomes on the other hand as well. Moreover, perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns frequently showed substantial overlap. These inconsistencies of differential relations and the substantial overlap of perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns raise questions concerning the factorial structure of perfectionism and the meaning of its dimensions. In this study, several bifactor models were applied to disentangle the common variance of perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns at the item level using Hill et al.’s (2004) Perfectionism Inventory (PI). The PI measures a broad range of perfectionism dimensions by four perfectionistic strivings and four perfectionistic concerns subscales. The bifactor-(S – 1) model with one general factor defined by concern over mistakes as the reference facet, four specific perfectionistic strivings factors, and three specific perfectionistic concerns factors showed acceptable fit. The results revealed a clear separation between perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns, as the general factor represented concern over mistakes, while the perfectionistic strivings factors each explained a substantial amount of reliable variance independent of the general factor. As a result, factor scores of the specific perfectionistic strivings factors and the general factor had differential relationships with achievement motivation, neuroticism, conscientiousness, and self-efficacy that met with theoretical expectations, while results for manifest subscale scores were ambiguous. Our results question the existence of reliable sub-constructs of perfectionistic concerns independent of the general factor when defined by concern over mistakes.

Specific perfectionism components predicting daily stress, coping, and negative affect six months and three years later

This study of community adults compared the relative predictive value of specific perfectionism components in predicting daily stress, coping, and affect in the short- and long-term. Participants completed several measures of higher-order dimensions of personal standards perfectionism (PSP) and self-critical perfectionism (SCP) at Time 1, including the Blatt, D'Afflitti, and Quinlan (1976) Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, the Frost, Marten, Lahart, and Rosenblate (1990) Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Hewitt and Flett (1991) Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Slaney, Rice, Mobley, Trippi, and Ashby (2001) revised Almost Perfect Scale. Then, six months and three years later, participants completed daily questionnaires of stress, coping, and negative affect for 14 consecutive days. Correlational and multiple regression analyses showed that the DEQ self-criticism measure of SCP uniquely predicted aggregated daily event stress and negative affect at Month 6 and Year 3, whereas the FMPS concern over mistakes measure of SCP uniquely predicted negative social interactions and HMPS socially prescribed perfectionism measure of SCP uniquely predicted avoidant coping. The APS-R high standards measure of PSP uniquely predicted problem-focused coping at Month 6 and Year 3. These findings demonstrate the differential predictive value of specific perfectionism components in prospectively predicting various aspects of daily psychosocial (mal)adjustment.

What do we need for creativity? The interaction of perfectionism and overall justice on creativity

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is twofold, applying an interactive perspective. First, the authors examine the effects of perfectionism, specifically self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism on creativity. Understanding the distinctive effects of two dimensions of perfectionism (Leonard and Harvey, 2008), the authors propose the positive effect of self-oriented perfectionism on creativity while the negative effect of socially prescribed perfectionism on creativity. Second, the authors explore the role of overall justice by examining the direct and interacting effects of the two dimensions of perfectionism on creativity.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using questionnaires distributed to employees and their direct supervisors located in South Korea. Hierarchal regression analyses were used to examine the main and moderating effects.FindingsThe authors’ results demonstrated that self-oriented perfectionism was positively related to employee’s creativity; while, socially prescribed perfectionism was not significantly related to employee’s creativity. Furthermore, the study examined the critical context factor of overall justice in determining individual creativity. The result demonstrated that the positive relationship between self-oriented perfectionism and creativity was stronger when overall justice is low rather than high in line with trait activation theory.Research limitations/implicationsA cross-sectional design may be a concern. Future research needs to take a more careful approach to avoid this potential problem.Originality/valueThis study enriches our understanding of the two domains of perfectionism (self-oriented and social prescribed perfectionism) and overall justice as critical factors for creativity. Applying an interactive perspective, this study demonstrated how perfectionism and overall justice play important roles in influencing employees’ creativity independently and jointly.

Gender Differences in STEM Students' Perfectionism, Career Search Self‐Efficacy, and Perception of Career Barriers

The purpose of this study was to explore potential gender differences in the mediating effect of career search self‐efficacy between 2 dimensions of perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive) and the perception of career barriers. A total of 279 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics undergraduate students participated in the study. Among men, but not women, career search self‐efficacy mediated the relationships between both dimensions of perfectionism and the perception of career barriers. Implications for counselors and future research directions are discussed.

Perfectionistic concerns predict increases in adolescents’ anxiety symptoms: a three-wave longitudinal study

ABSTRACTBackground and Objectives: Although perfectionism has been proposed to be a risk factor for the development of anxiety, research on perfectionism and anxiety symptoms in adolescents is scarce and inconclusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the two higher-order dimensions of perfectionism – perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns – predict the development and maintenance of anxiety symptoms. An additional aim of the present study was to examine potential reciprocal effects of anxiety symptoms predicting increases in perfectionism.Design: The study used a longitudinal design with three waves spaced 4–5 months apart.Methods: A non-clinical sample of 489 adolescents aged 12–19 years completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire.Results: As expected, results showed a positive effect from perfectionistic concerns to anxiety symptoms, but the effect was restricted to middle-to-late adolescents (16–19 years old): Perfectionistic concerns predicted longitudinal increases in adolescents’ anxiety symptoms, whereas perfectionistic strivings did not. Furthermore, anxiety symptoms did not predict increases in perfectionism.Conclusions: Implications for the understanding of the relationship between perfectionism and anxiety symptoms are discussed.

The relationships between parental conditional regard and adolescents' self-critical and narcissistic perfectionism

Studies show that the development of perfectionism in adolescence is associated with psychologically controlling parenting. The current study extends research in this area by examining the relationship between a specific aspect of psychologically controlling parenting, parental conditional regard, and two dimensions of perfectionism, self-critical perfectionism and narcissistic perfectionism. Three hundred and sixteen adolescents (M age=15.69years, s=1.23) completed a standardised questionnaire. Structural equation modelling revealed that both self-critical perfectionism and narcissistic perfectionism were positively predicted by parental conditional regard. Our findings are the first to suggest that parent socialization characterised by guilt inducement and love withdrawal may be common to the development of these two distinct dimensions of perfectionism.

The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Psychopathology: A Meta‐Analysis

The clinical significance of 2 main dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) was examined via a meta-analysis of studies investigating perfectionism in the psychopathology literature. We investigated relationships between psychopathology outcomes (clinical diagnoses of depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders; symptoms of these disorders; and outcomes related to psychopathology, such as deliberate self-harm, suicidal ideation, and general distress) and each perfectionism dimension. The relationships were examined by evaluating (a) differences in the magnitude of association of the 2 perfectionism dimensions with psychopathology outcomes and (b) subscales of 2 common measures of perfectionism. A systematic literature search retrieved 284 relevant studies, resulting in 2,047 effect sizes that were analysed with meta-analysis and meta-regression while accounting for data dependencies. Findings support the notion of perfectionism as a transdiagnostic factor by demonstrating that both dimensions are associated with various forms of psychopathology.

Perfeccionismo percibido y expresión de ira en deportistas varones adolescentes: Influencia sobre la autoestima

The aim of this research is the analysis of the influences of dimensions such as perfectionism and expression anger on self-esteem, pillar on which personality is built. 229 athletes, male, football (N = 130) and basketball players (N = 99), aged between 13 and 17 years (M = 14.43; DS = 1.367), took part in this research. Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-NA), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and socio-demographic questionnaires were distributed. The results of correlational analyses show how the dimensions of maladaptive perfectionism are associated with lower self-esteem; in contrast, some dimensions of maladaptive perfectionism were found. Anger feature dimension is correlated in reverse order to self-esteem. Moreover, the indicators of adaptative perfectionism –Organization and Personal Standards- associate a higher sense of self-steem; as opposed to maladaptive perfectionist tendencies. The evaluation of such variables in sports allows to design prevention programs health and/or stimulation of adaptive behaviors for team sports.

Perfectionism and achievement goals revisited: The 3 × 2 achievement goal framework

ObjectivesPerfectionistic strivings (PS) and perfectionistic concerns (PC) have shown different profiles with the 2 × 2 achievement goals in sport. Whether PS and PC also show comparable profiles with the achievement goals of the expanded 3 × 2 framework, however, is unclear. DesignCross-sectional. MethodWe examined self-reported perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, and the 3 × 2 achievement goals in 136 junior athletes (mean age 17.0 years). ResultsThe results of structural equation modeling showed that PS were positively associated with task-, self-, and other-approach goals and negatively with task- and self-avoidance goals. In contrast, PC were positively associated with task-, self-, and other-avoidance goals and negatively with task- and self-approach goals. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that PS and PC show different profiles also with the 3 × 2 achievement goals which may help explain why the two perfectionism dimensions show differential relations with achievement-related outcomes in sport.

Enduring in an “Impossible” Occupation

Very little is known about the role of person-level qualities, or personality, in the teacher labor market. This study explores the role of perfectionism in teacher occupational commitment and retention. One hundred eighteen graduates of a competitive teacher preparation program with widely varying levels of total years commitment to the job completed a measure of three dimensions of perfectionism— standards (holding oneself to high standards), order (valuing neatness, tidiness, and being disciplined), and discrepancy (perceiving a gap between ambitions and abilities)—and gave information about their personal backgrounds and work histories. Results suggest that none of the dimensions of perfectionism predict teacher commitment in the sample as a whole, but that the order dimension significantly predicts long-term commitment to struggling urban versus affluent suburban schools. These results imply that long-term urban teachers may be adept at overlooking difficult and sometimes chaotic circumstances to sustain themselves in the occupation.

Brief Group Intervention Targeting Perfectionism in Adults with Anorexia Nervosa: Empirically Informed Protocol.

This study aimed to evaluate the perfectionism group intervention in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN) in an inpatient setting. Adults with AN (N = 35) received six weekly sessions of the empirically informed intervention with experiential exercises. Participants' self-reported perfectionism and satisfaction were collected pre-group and post-group intervention. Statistically, significant differences were observed for overall perfectionism, concern over mistakes and personal standard dimensions of perfectionism. Participants found the sessions useful and felt confident in using the skills they had learnt. The revised perfectionism group with experiential exercises seemed to be a practical and helpful intervention for patients with AN in an inpatient programme. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

The Child–Adolescent Perfectionism Scale

There is growing interest in perfectionism among children and adolescents as well as growing interest in the measures designed to assess perfectionism in young people. The current article describes the development and psychometric characteristics of the Child–Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS), a measure that assesses self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism. The results of three studies involving multiple samples are reported. The psychometric features of this measure are summarized, including extensive data that attest to the reliability and validity of the CAPS subscales. Normative data are also provided in Study 1. The results of Study 2 suggest that the academic behavior of perfectionistic students is motivated by a complex blend of factors that include a strong emphasis on introjected regulation in both self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism; however, there are key motivational differences between these perfectionism dimensions. Finally, Study 3 confirmed that self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism are associated with various indices of stress, distress, and maladjustment. Collectively, our results support the use of the CAPS and the notion that vulnerable children and adolescents who are perfectionistic are under substantial pressure to meet expectations. The assessment and theoretical implications of these results are discussed.

Perfectionism and narcissism: A meta-analytic review

Theoretical accounts suggest an important relationship between perfectionism and narcissism, and 25years of research has tested these accounts. We meta-analyzed this literature, providing the most comprehensive test of the perfectionism-narcissism relationship to date. Thirty studies were located (N=9,091). After controlling for overlap among perfectionism dimensions, random-effects meta-analysis indicated self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and perfectionistic self-promotion were related to narcissistic grandiosity, whereas socially prescribed perfectionism, perfectionistic self-promotion, and nondisclosure of imperfection were related to narcissistic vulnerability. Results suggest grandiose narcissists strive toward lofty goals, impose unrealistic demands on others, and promote an image of perfection. Results also suggest vulnerable narcissists actively promote an image of infallibility while defensively concealing imperfections in response to perceptions of others as demanding.

Perfectionism, Coping, and Underachievement in Gifted Adolescents: Avoidance vs. Approach Orientations

Perfectionism can influence how one approaches challenges and deals with setbacks, and, consequently, can inhibit or facilitate achievement. The present study (1) explored the relationship between Frost’s six dimensions of perfectionism and five types of coping strategies; (2) examined how dimensions of perfectionism predict coping in response to academic stress; and (3) investigated differences between gifted underachievers and other gifted students on perfectionism and coping among 130 American gifted students in grades 6–8. Results of stepwise regression models revealed approach coping was predicted by adaptive perfectionism (Positive Strivings-notably Organization), whereas avoidance coping (Internalizing, Externalizing, and Distancing) was predicted by various combined models. Gifted underachievers displayed lower Positive Strivings perfectionism scores and lower positive coping when compared to achievers. This information is helpful when considering ways to guide gifted students to high levels of academic achievement while utilizing adaptive approaches.

Understanding the Role of Dimensions of Perfectionism on Anxiety Sensitivity

This study investigated the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism and anxiety sensitivity. The study group is composed by 398 (211 female; 187 male) students who were studying at the pedagogical formation certificate program at Mugla Sitki Kocman University. The data were collected by using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and Anxiety Sensitivity Index-R. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was employed to study the relationships between anxiety sensitivity and dimensions of perfectionism; structural equation modeling was also used for explaining the predictive role of dimensions of perfectionism on anxiety sensitivity. Concern over mistakes, personal standards, parental expectations, parental criticism, doubts about actions, and organization dimensions of perfectionism were found to be significantly correlated to anxiety sensitivity. A significant impact of six dimensions of perfectionism on anxiety sensitivity was detected. The theoretical implications of the link between perfectionism and anxiety sensitivity were discussed.

Perfectionism, Components of Stress Reactivity, and Depressive Symptoms

The current study examined the associations among dimensions of perfectionism, facets of stress reactivity, and self-reported depressive symptoms in 191 university students. Participants completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory, the Perceived Stress Reactivity Scale (PSRS), and a measure of depressive symptoms. The PSRS is a relatively new instrument that measures several distinguishable facets of stress reactivity including prolonged stress reactivity, reactivity to failure, and reactivity to social evaluation. Analyses confirmed that most of the perfectionism measures were associated with stress reactivity to failure experiences. Socially prescribed perfectionism and perfectionistic automatic thoughts were also associated with prolonged stress reactivity and reactivity to social evaluation. Moreover, all facets of stress reactivity were correlated with depressive symptoms. Finally, prolonged stress reactivity and reactivity to social evaluation mediated the links between perfectionism dimensions and depressive symptoms. The current findings provide general support for models of perfectionism and stress, and suggest that perfectionists have heightened sensitivities to stressors related to their self-definitions that are activated when threatening stressors involving these themes are experienced.

Self-image goals in trait perfectionism and perfectionistic self-presentation: Toward a broader understanding of the drives and motives of perfectionists

The current research extends previous theory and research on perfectionism and motivation by showing that perfectionism involves a propensity to pursue self-image goals. It was shown across three studies that dimensions of trait and self-presentational perfectionism were associated with self-image goals in the areas of academics, friendships, and self-improvement. These associations were not simply a reflection of the variance attributable to constructs associated with perfectionism such as self-silencing or self-consciousness. Further, validation seeking mediated the association between perfectionism and self-image goals. Additionally, self-image goals mediated the associations that perfectionism has with depression and burnout. Our findings suggest that perfectionists operate according to a chronically activated “egosystem” and their preoccupation with self-image concerns is central to understanding the compulsive striving and pressure they experience.

Adult Attachment, Multidimensional Perfectionism, and the Alliances Among Counselor Supervisees

This study examined the moderating role that 2 dimensions of perfectionism (standards [adaptive] and discrepancy [maladaptive]) had on 2 dimensions of adult attachment (anxious and avoidant) and both client and supervisory alliances among 170 counselor supervisees. Anxious attachment and discrepancy were significant negative predictors of the client working alliance. A significant 3‐way interaction was found between anxious attachment, standards, and discrepancy on the supervisory working alliance. Implications from these findings are discussed.

Emotional Control Mediates the Association Between Dimensions of Perfectionism and Worry in Children.

Previous research has shown that perfectionism predicts for increased worry in children. Theoretically, children with high levels of perfectionism may show a decreased ability to control their emotions during times of perceived failure. Children may then worry as a maladaptive attempt to cope with intense emotions. The current study sought to test the mediating role of emotional control on the relation between perfectionism dimensions and worry in children. Participants were 66 parent-child dyads. Children were 7-13years (50% male; 77.3% Caucasian, 9.1% African American). Overall the model fit the data well. Results indicated that perfectionism domains predicted for emotional control deficits and increased worry. Emotional control also partially mediated the relation between perfectionism dimensions and worry. These results suggest that emotional control may be one mechanism through which perfectionism exerts its effect on worry and perfectionistic children may worry due to difficulty controlling their emotional responses.

Athletes' perfectionism and reasons for training: Perfectionistic concerns predict training for weight control

Exercise and training for sports are associated with a number of psychological and health benefits. Research on exercise, however, suggests that such benefits depend on the reasons why individuals participate in sport. The present study investigated whether individual differences in perfectionism predicted different reasons for training and examined four dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, coach pressure to be perfect, parental pressure to be perfect) and three reasons for training (avoidance of negative affect, weight control, mood improvement) in 261 athletes (mean age 20.9years). Regression analyses showed that perfectionistic concerns positively predicted avoidance of negative affect and weight control, whereas perfectionistic strivings positively predicted mood improvement. The findings suggest that individual differences in perfectionism help explain why athletes train for different reasons.