Dimensions Of Perfectionism Research Articles

The Study of Teacher Candidates’ Perfectionism in Relation with Achievement and Demographics

Perfectionist individuals may ignore their success in order to strive better, however this way of thinking can make them feel more negative about themselves. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship of teacher candidates’ perfectionism with their academic achievement and demographic variables. Descriptive research method is utilized. The research group was composed of 102 students from Psychological Counseling, Preschool Education and English Language Teaching Graduate Programs of Fatih University in 2013-2014. Data collection instruments are Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale for perfectionism measures and 18-questioned Demographic Variables Form which was developed by the researchers for demographic information. The results showed that various dimensions of perfectionism differ significantly according to demographic variables and academic achievement. The overall perfectionism levels are found as statistically different according to major residence area and GPA.

Repetitive negative thinking mediates the association between perfectionism and psychological distress

Our objective was to analyze the relationships between Repetitive negative thinking (RNT), perfectionism and psychological distress. Specifically we wanted to test if RNT mediates the relationship between perfectionism and psychological distress. 788 college students completed self-report questionnaires to evaluate perfectionism trait dimensions [Evaluative concerns (EC) and Positive strivings (PS)], RNT dimensions [Repetitive thinking (RT) and Cognitive interference and unproductivity (CIU)], perceived stress, and perceived support. Psychological distress was measured with the Profile of Mood States subscales: Depression (D), Tension–anxiety (TA), Anger–hostility (AH), Fatigue–inertia (FI) and Vigor–anxiety (VA). After controlling for perceived stress and support, perfectionism dimensions and RNT (particularly CIU) remained a significant predictors of psychological distress. CIU was a partial mediator of the relationship between EC and D, TA, AH, FI and VA and a full mediator of the relationship of PS with D and FI. Whereas the effect of negative perfectionism on emotional disturbances was potentiated by RNT, PS was only associated to it when high levels of RNT were also present. Showing that Positive striving effects on psychological distress may be a function of specific mediators, these results contribute to a better understanding of the nature of positive perfectionism.

THE 2 × 2 MODEL OF PERFECTIONISM AND SCHOOL‐ AND COMMUNITY‐BASED SPORT PARTICIPATION

The authors adopted the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism to examine the unique and interactive effects of two dimensions of perfectionism (personal standards perfectionism [PSP] and evaluative concerns perfectionism [ECP]) on personal and interpersonal indicators of participant experience in youth sport (enjoyment, physical self‐worth, and friendship quality). Participants (N = 219, M age = 15.12, SD = 2.02) were recruited from various school‐ and community‐based sports and completed a multi‐section questionnaire. Consideration of main and interaction effects indicated that pure PSP (high PSP/low ECP) was associated with the most positive sport experience and pure ECP (low PSP/high ECP) was associated with the least positive sport experience. The findings suggest that subtypes of perfectionism from the 2 × 2 model are predictive of differing experiences in youth sport participation.

Perfectionism cognitions are multidimensional: a reply to Flett and Hewitt (2014).

We reply to Flett and Hewitt's commentary on our findings focusing on the multidimensionality of the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (PCI) and the question of whether the Multidimensional Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (MPCI) represents an alternative to the PCI. In addition, we reiterate the importance of considering suppression effects when examining different dimensions of perfectionism and, in concluding, invite researchers to join forces to further advance the assessment of multidimensional perfectionism cognitions.

FURTHER EVIDENCE ON THE "COSTS OF PRIVILEGE": PERFECTIONISM IN HIGH-ACHIEVING YOUTH AT SOCIOECONOMIC EXTREMES.

This study involved two academically-gifted samples of 11th and 12th grade youth at the socioeconomic status (SES) extremes; one from an exclusive private, affluent school, and the other from a magnet school with low-income students. Negative and positive adjustment outcomes were examined in relation to multiple dimensions of perfectionism including perceived parental pressures to be perfect, personal perfectionistic self-presentation, and envy of peers. The low-income students showed some areas of relative vulnerability, but when large group differences were found, it was the affluent youth who were at a disadvantage, with substantially higher substance use and peer envy. Affluent girls seemed particularly vulnerable, with pronounced elevations in perfectionistic tendencies, peer envy, as well as body dissatisfaction. Examination of risk and protective processes showed that relationships with mothers were associated with students' distress as well as positive adjustment. Additionally, findings showed links between (a) envy of peers and multiple outcomes (among high SES girls in particular), (b) dimensions of perfectionism in relation to internalizing symptoms, and

Perfecting Weight Restriction: The Moderating Influence of Body Dissatisfaction on the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Weight Control Practices

This study explored the moderating effect of body dissatisfaction (BD) on the relationship between perfectionism and weight restricting and control behaviours (WRCBs). A sample of 167 female undergraduates completed self-report measures of perfectionism, BD and WRCBs. BD was not found to moderate the relationship between either perfectionism and dieting, or perfectionism and exercise. Instead, BD uniquely predicted both dieting and exercise, as did the perfectionism dimensions of self-oriented perfectionism, concern over mistakes, parental standards, and organisation. BD moderated the relationship between perfectionism and purging for analyses involving self-oriented perfectionism, concern over mistakes, and doubts about actions, such that there was a significant positive association between perfectionism and purging when BD was high but not low. Perfectionism and BD are important in different ways to WRCBs. The importance of measuring multiple dimensions of perfectionism and differentiating between the various types of WRCBs is highlighted.

Perfectionism and motivation of adolescents in academic contexts.

We examined the nature of self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism in relation to the motivation and achievement of 306 Korean 7th graders. We also tested the mediating role of domain-specific academic self-efficacy and achievement goals in the relationships between perfectionism and achievement-related outcomes across math and English. In the direct path model, self-oriented perfectionism related positively to academic achievement and negatively to acceptability of cheating and academic procrastination. Socially prescribed perfectionism, in contrast, related positively to test anxiety, acceptability of cheating, and academic procrastination. In the mediation models, self-oriented perfectionism related consistently and positively to academic self-efficacy, a mastery goal, and a performance-approach goal in the domain. Socially prescribed perfectionism related consistently and positively to a performance-approach and a performance-avoidance goal. Academic self-efficacy and a mastery goal mediated the paths from self-oriented perfectionism to acceptability of cheating, academic procrastination, and achievement, while a performance-avoidance goal in English mediated the path from socially prescribed perfectionism to test anxiety. Many of the paths from perfectionism to outcomes were thus mediated by domain-specific motivation. The direct paths from the 2 perfectionism dimensions to academic procrastination remained significant, however, even in the presence of the intervening motivation variables.

Targeting perfectionism in anorexia nervosa using a group-based cognitive behavioural approach: a pilot study.

This study aimed to explore whether a six session cognitive behavioural group intervention targeting perfectionism is efficacious in reducing perfectionism in adults with anorexia nervosa in an inpatient setting. Adults with anorexia nervosa received a group perfectionism intervention in an inpatient setting. Self-report and patient satisfaction questionnaires were completed at the beginning of the first session and end of the last session. Significant changes of moderate effect size were observed for overall perfectionism, concern over mistakes and personal standards dimensions of perfectionism following participation in the group. These changes were found to be independent of change in body mass index. A group cognitive behavioural approach appears to be efficacious in reducing perfectionism in adults with anorexia nervosa.

Perfectionism dimensions as predictors of symptom dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The correlation between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and perfectionism is well documented, yet it remains unclear if dimensions of perfectionism vary as a function of OCD symptom dimensions. To this end, the present study investigated the unique associations between dimensions of perfectionism (i.e., concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, personal standards, parental criticism, parental expectations, and organization) and OCD symptom dimensions (i.e., hoarding, washing, checking, ordering, obsessing, and neutralizing). The study included adult patients with OCD (N = 46) from a residential OCD treatment program. Consistent with previous research, doubts about actions was a significant predictor of overall OCD severity and OCD checking symptoms. The organization dimension of perfectionism was a significant predictor of OCD ordering symptoms. The current study provides evidence for the unique relationships between OCD symptoms and perfectionism dimensions that encourage a movement toward greater phenotypic specificity within existing models of OCD.

Perfectionism, Stress, Daily Hassles, Hopelessness, and Suicide Potential in Depressed Psychiatric Adolescents

The current study examined dimensions of perfectionism, stress, hopelessness, and suicidality in a sample of adolescent psychiatric patients diagnosed with depression. This study evaluated the unique contribution of perfectionism in predicting suicidality after considering other predictors (i.e., hopelessness, depression) and it also examined the diathesis-stress model of perfectionism and suicide. A sample of 55 adolescents (41 females, mean age = 15.53, 25.5 % ethnic/racial minorities) who were psychiatric patients completed measures including the Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale, subjective and objective indices of life stress, daily hassles, depression, hopelessness, suicide ideation, prior attempts and suicide potential. In addition, other informants (i.e., adolescents’ parents) completed a diagnostic interview and an interview assessing major stressful experiences. Socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., the perception that others require perfection of oneself) predicted concurrent levels of suicide potential and this association with suicide potential held even after controlling for the variances accounted for by depression and hopelessness. Hierarchical regression analyses provided partial support for the diathesis-stress model, that is, socially prescribed perfectionism interacted with daily hassles to predict concurrent suicide potential even after controlling for depression, hopelessness, and prior suicide attempt. Together, these findings suggest that socially prescribed perfectionism acts as a vulnerability factor that is predictive of suicide potential or risk among clinically depressed adolescents.

Perfeccionismo y conductas alimentarias de riesgo en adolescentes españoles de ambos géneros

The aim of this study was to assess the dimensions of perfectionism that are linked to risk eating behaviors in a representative sample of Spanish adolescents of both genders, and analyze the differences in these dimensions between adolescents with high and low eating disorder risk. Method: 2142 adolescents from Alicante (1130 girls and 1012 boys), mean age 13.96 years (SD = 1.34), completed the Spanish version of the The Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS) and the EAT-40.Results: Self-Oriented Perfectionism and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism were positively associated with EAT-40 total score, and with the different factors that comprise it, in both genders. Adolescents with high risk of developing an eating disorder showed higher Self-Oriented Perfectionism and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism than adolescents with low risk of developing the disorder. Conclusion: These results suggest that it is necessary to identify these perfectionist tendencies in adolescents before they become pathological behaviors, in order to prevent the development of an eating disorder.

The relationships between perfectionism, pathological worry and generalised anxiety disorder.

BackgroundThe relationships between perfectionism, pathological worry and generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) were investigated in a clinical sample presenting for treatment of perfectionism.MethodThis study explored the utility of perfectionism in predicting pathological worry in a sample of individuals with elevated perfectionism and GAD (n = 36). Following this, the study examined whether perfectionism could predict a principal GAD diagnosis in the full sample (n = 42).ResultsScores on the perfectionism dimensions Concern over Mistakes, Personal Standards, and Clinical Perfectionism significantly predicted pathological worry among participants with GAD after controlling for gender and depression. The perfectionism dimension Doubts about Actions significantly predicted whether individuals from the full sample received a principal diagnosis of GAD.ConclusionsThese findings support certain dimensions of perfectionism having significant associations with pathological worry and GAD.

Poster #S212 SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL TRAUMA AND THE SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL FUNCTIONING IN FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS PATIENTS

The present paper reports the results of research that examines the link between dimensions of Type A behaviour and perfectionism in two separate samples. In sample one, 233 subjects (105 males, 128 females) completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) and the student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey. The MPS has three subscales measuring self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism. It was found that various components of Type A behaviour were associated positively with all three perfectionism dimensions among males. As for females, significant positive associations were present between various Type A measures and the perfectionism measures, with the exception of other-oriented perfectionism. In sample two, a broader assessment was obtained by having 100 subjects (57 males, 43 females) complete the MPS and three measures of Type A behaviour. Once again, it was found that at least one component of the Type A construct was associated with each perfectionism dimension, and these relations were present for both males and females. The findings of the present research are discussed in terms of how the perfectionistic standards of the Type A individual are expressed in interpersonal contexts. The results are also discussed in terms of the need for self-evaluation models to incorporate social standards.

The Relation between Perfectionism and Impostor Phenomenon

Considering the lack of research regarding the association between perfectionism described by Hill et al. (2004) and impostor phenomenon, in this study I aimed to investigate the way these two variables relate one to another, on a sample of 129 Romanian students (Mage = 21.79, SD = 1.28). The instruments that I used were Perfectionism Inventory (Hill et al., 2004) and Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale elaborated in 1985. The obtained correlations were statistically significant for self-evaluative perfectionism and not significant for conscientious perfectionism. The multiple regression analysis showed that the impostor phenomenon was best predicted by the need for approval, organization and rumination dimensions of perfectionism. The obtained results, as well as their utility were thoroughly analyzed.

Exploring the Development of Perfectionism: The Influence of Parenting Style and Gender

In this study we explored the associations between different combinations of the parenting characteristics of demands and warmth, and distinct dimensions of perfectionism. A secondary purpose was to examine whether or not these associations vary by gender. Results indicated that an authoritarian parenting style was associated with more maladaptive aspects of perfectionism (e.g., concerns about mistakes, doubting one's abilities), whereas authoritative parenting seemed to buffer individuals from these maladaptive aspects. In general, indulgent parenting was associated with fewer feelings of criticism from parents, whereas neglectful parenting was related to more feelings of criticism. None of the parenting styles, however, was related to adaptive perfectionism (e.g., personal standards, organization). Apart from a few noteworthy exceptions, patterns of association were similar for males and females.

The relation between childhood obsessive–compulsive symptoms and perfectionism from a five-factor model personality perspective

Accumulating research evidence suggests that perfectionism is a multidimensional personality characteristic with both adaptive and maladaptive dimensions. Despite the bulk of research on linking maladaptive perfectionism with obsessive–compulsive symptoms among adults, such research among children has been limited, as well as research on the adaptive part of perfectionism. Therefore, the present study examines in 193 adolescents (66.5% girls; 11–19 years old) the relation between child rated obsessive–compulsive symptoms and both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism dimensions, measured from a traditional perspective (Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale; child rated), as well as a Five-Factor Model personality perspective (Hierarchical Personality Inventory for Children and Dimensional Personality Symptom Item Pool; mother rated). The results show that specific childhood obsessive–compulsive symptoms are more related to perfectionism compared to others. Further, obsessive–compulsive symptoms are related to perfectionism, especially the maladaptive dimensions. Implications for including (maladaptive) personality measures in the assessment of perfectionism and obsessive–compulsive symptoms will be discussed.

Intolerance of Uncertainty Mediates the Relation Between Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms and Anger

Previous research has shown that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) report elevated anger compared with nonanxious individuals; however, the pathways linking GAD and anger are currently unknown. We hypothesized that negative beliefs about uncertainty, negative beliefs about worry and perfectionism dimensions mediate the relationship between GAD symptoms and anger variables. We employed multiple mediation with bootstrapping on cross-sectional data from a student sample (N = 233) to test four models assessing potential mediators of the association of GAD symptoms to inward anger expression, outward anger expression, trait anger and hostility, respectively. The belief that uncertainty has negative personal and behavioural implications uniquely mediated the association of GAD symptoms to inward anger expression (confidence interval [CI] = .0034, .1845, PM = .5444), and the belief that uncertainty is unfair and spoils everything uniquely mediated the association of GAD symptoms to outward anger expression (CI = .0052, .1936, PM = .4861) and hostility (CI = .0269, .2427, PM = .3487). Neither negative beliefs about worry nor perfectionism dimensions uniquely mediated the relation of GAD symptoms to anger constructs. We conclude that intolerance of uncertainty may help to explain the positive connection between GAD symptoms and anger, and these findings give impetus to future longitudinal investigations of the role of anger in GAD.

Perfectionism and narcissism: Testing unique relationships and gender differences

Theoretical models suggest narcissists’ grandiose but fragile self-concept leads them to impose perfectionistic demands onto others and to promote an image of perfection in pursuit of others’ admiration. It is unclear which perfectionism dimensions are uniquely related to narcissism and if the relationship between perfectionism and narcissism generalizes across men and women. The present study addresses these important gaps in knowledge. Other-oriented perfectionism and perfectionistic self-promotion were hypothesized to be positively related to narcissism. Potential differences between men and women were also explored. A sample of 983 undergraduates completed measures of trait perfectionism, perfectionistic self-presentation, perfectionism cognitions, and narcissism. As hypothesized, other-oriented perfectionism and perfectionistic self-promotion were both positively and uniquely related to narcissism. The perfectionism–narcissism relationship generalized across the men and the women in this study. Somewhat unexpectedly, nondisplay of imperfection was negatively and uniquely related to narcissism. The present study represents the most comprehensive test of the perfectionism–narcissism connection to date. Results support theoretical models suggesting narcissistic perfectionists are demanding, hyper-critical, entitled, and grandiose individuals who impose their need for perfection onto others and who engage in brash self-promotion of their (supposed) perfection to others.

The relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and passion in junior athletes.

Research suggests that self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism have unique and distinct motivational properties that are evident among junior athletes. Likewise, harmonious and obsessive passions encompass distinctive patterns of motivation. Based on suggestions that different dimensions of perfectionism may be associated with varying types of passion, the aim of the current study was to test the possibility that self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism could be distinguished based on their relationship with harmonious and obsessive passion in junior athletes. Two hundred and forty-nine athletes (M age = 16.07, SD = 2.22) competing in various youth sports completed measures of perfectionism and passion. Multiple regression and canonical correlation analyses indicated that self-oriented perfectionism predicted higher levels of both types of passion. In contrast, socially prescribed perfectionism predicted only obsessive passion. The findings provide an initial indication that the motivational differences between self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism extend to the types of passion they engender. The findings also provide additional insight into the patterns of motivation that are likely to arise from the two dimensions of perfectionism in junior athletes.

Resilience Mediates the Relations Between Perfectionism and College Student Distress

This study examined the relations among perfectionism dimensions, resilience, and distress. Participants were 413 undergraduate students. All 3 of Hewitt and Flett's (2004) dimensions of perfectionism were associated with greater reports of depression and anxiety; however, only socially prescribed perfectionism was significantly associated with resilience. Results indicated that resilience partially mediated the relations between socially prescribed perfectionism and distress. Implications for counselors in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of depression and anxiety are discussed.