Maladaptive Dimensions Research Articles

2095 – The portuguese frost mutidimensional perfectionism scale and mood states in portuguese college students

Perfectionism has been a topic of increased interest in recent years. Findings from the literature have shown that perfectionism is associated in the development and maintenance of a wide range of psychopathological conditions. 1) to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS); 2) to explore the associations between perfectionism dimensions and positive/negative affectivity. 217 students from two Portuguese Universities filled in the FMPS and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). A subgroup (n=166) completed a retest of the FMPS with a four weeks interval. Scale reliability was good (Cronbach alpha = .857). Corrected item-total correlations ranged from .019 and .548, and were higher than .2 for most of the items. Test-retest reliability suggested a good temporal stability for FMPS total score (r=.765). A principal component analysis with Varimax rotation was performed and based on Scree plot, two robust factorial structures were suggested (four and six factors). The more maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism were significantly and positively associated with negative affect and negatively associated with positive affect. Depression and anxiety/hostility dimensions are both positively associated with concern over mistakes (respectively, r=.338, r=.360, p< .01), parental criticism (respectively, r=.180, r=.254, p< .01) and doubts about actions (respectively, r=.312, r=.189, p< .01). An unexpected result was the positive association with personal standards dimension (respectively, r=.178, p< .05; r=.204, p< .01). The Portuguese version of FMPS showed good reliability and internal consistency. The perfectionism personality trait is associated with mood states.

Perfeccionismo e representação vinculativa em jovens adultos

The relationships established within the family are extremely important in the development of individual personality traits. The goal of this study was to investigate the relation between the development of perfectionism and attachment representations in a sample of 690 young adults, aged between 17 and 30 years old. Participants completed two scales of Self-report Measure of Perfectionism (H-MPS and F-MPS) and the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA), as well as a Social-Demographic Questionnaire. Results indicate the existence of a relation between maladaptive perfectionism dimensions and an insecure attachment representation to parents, whereas adaptive perfectionism dimensions seem to be related to a secure attachment representation. The results suggest that one of the contributing factors to the development of perfectionism is the nature of parental relationships and their consequent interactions.

Examination of the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Religiosity as Mediated by Psychological Inflexibility

A relationship between perfectionism and religiosity has been suggested in the literature, and this relationship is clarified further when the adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of both constructs are compared. Literature in both areas implicates the idea of a rigid and inflexible personality style that may explain why well meaning high standards can be associated with negative outcomes such as perfectionism. This investigation examined the relationship of perfectionism and religiosity, using adaptive and maladaptive dimensions, as mediated by psychological inflexibility. Validated measures of perfectionism, religiosity, and psychological inflexibility were given to 376 undergraduate college students in an anonymous online survey. Adaptive perfectionism (high standards) was found to be significantly correlated (r = .26, p < .01, two-tailed) with adaptive religiosity (intrinsic orientation). Maladaptive perfectionism (discrepancy) was found to be significantly correlated (r = .13, p < .05, two-tailed) with maladaptive religiosity (extrinsic orientation). Psychological inflexibility was found to be significantly correlated with the maladaptive dimensions of both perfectionism and religiosity. It was also shown to mediate the relationship between maladaptive (extrinsic) religiosity and maladaptive (discrepancy) perfectionism. Implications and future directions are discussed.

The role of perfectionism in psychological health: A study of adolescents in Pakistan

This study investigated the effects of perfectionism on psychological health and explored the adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism in the Eastern culture of Pakistan. Demographic data were also analyzed. Participants were 323 university students (144 males &amp; 179 females), who completed the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost, Marten, Lahart &amp; Rosenblate, 1990), the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck &amp; Mermelstein, 1983), the Psychological Well-being Measure (Ryff, 1989) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond &amp; Snaith, 1983). Results indicate that overall perfectionism has a significant positive relationship with psychological distress and non-significant negative relationship with psychological well-being. Three dimensions of perfectionism, personal standards (PS), parental expectations (PE) and organization (OG), have a significant positive relationship with psychological well-being, similarly other three dimensions – concern over mistake (CM), parental criticism (PC) and doubt about actions (DA) – have a strong positive relationship with psychological distress. Results of Independent sample t-tests indicate that there is a significant difference between high and low overall perfectionism groups on stress, depression, anxiety, psychological distress and two sub-scales of psychological well-being – environmental mastery and purpose in life. Moreover, individuals having high scores on CM, PC and DA also have high scores on depression, stress, anxiety and psychological distress as compared to low scorers on the same scales, whereas high scored PS, PE and OG groups showed high level of psychological well-being, environmental mastery and purpose in life. Finally, analyses of demographic data indicate that only age has a significant effect on DA and age by gender interaction has a significant effect on PE. Potential implications for educational and counseling purposes are discussed.

Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism, Adult Attachment, and Big Five Personality Traits

ABSTRACT The author examined the role of anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment and Big Five personality traits in adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism among 604 (377 male, 227 female) Turkish university students. The results of 2 separate multiple regression analyses yielded that adaptive perfectionism was significantly predicted by conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion. Maladaptive perfectionism was significantly predicted by the neuroticism, anxiety, and avoidance dimensions of attachment. The authors discuss the implications, limitations, and future directions for research.

Perfectionism and fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Fatigue is among the most common and disabling symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relationship of perfectionism to fatigue in MS patients remains poorly understood. One hundred and twenty MS patients (79 women, 41 men) were compared with 120 healthy individuals (79 women, 41 men) to explore whether differences exist between the two groups with respect to perfectionistic characteristics and to investigate whether dimensions of positive and negative perfectionism are related to the symptomatology of fatigue. All participants were asked to complete the positive and negative perfectionism scale (PANPS), the modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), the fatigue severity scale (FSS) and the Beck depression inventory (BDI). The results revealed that the MS group reported lower levels of positive perfectionism and higher levels of negative perfectionism as well as depressive symptoms than the control group. Perfectionism was also significantly related to fatigue symptoms in both groups. These findings suggest that the fatigue symptoms are strongly associated with perfectionistic characteristics. The negative (maladaptive) dimension of perfectionism may play a predisposing role in the development and/or perpetuation of fatigue in MS patients. The findings are discussed within the scope of current literature and implications for clinical applications are suggested.

Perfectionistic concerns suppress associations between perfectionistic strivings and positive life outcomes

Perfectionism has been frequently associated with diverse negative psychological outcomes, but less frequently with positive psychological outcomes. This investigation reports multiple regression analyses based on survey data from 216 psychology students. These analyses indicate that adaptive perfectionistic strivings and maladaptive perfectionistic concerns predict desirable outcomes including psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and affect. That perfectionistic strivings predicted these outcomes is inconsistent with the small zero-order correlations between perfectionistic strivings and the positive outcomes, indicating that maladaptive perfectionistic concerns act as a suppressor variable in this relationship. These findings illustrate the importance of conceptualizing perfectionism as having both adaptive and maladaptive dimensions, and of assessing both simultaneously when examining relationships between perfectionism and other substantive variables.

Self-Criticism, Maladaptive Perfectionism, and Depression Symptoms in a Community Sample: A Longitudinal Test of the Mediating Effects of Person-Dependent Stressful Life Events

Both self-criticism and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism have been associated with depression symptoms, based on cross-sectional and some longitudinal research with selective clinical and student samples. The present study evaluated a mediation model involving self-criticism, maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism, and depression-related symptoms at baseline (Time 1), and person-dependent stressful life events and depression-related symptoms 12 months later (Time 2), in a more representative noninstitutionalized sample. Participants included 723 community-based adults in an urban area. A proposed mediation model based on recent theoretical writings was evaluated, whereby the effects of self-criticism and maladaptive perfectionism on subsequent depression symptoms were hypothesized to be mediated by person-dependent stressful life events. In female respondents, the relationship between self-criticism and Time 2 depression was not mediated by person-dependent stressful life events and the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism and Time 2 depression was fully mediated by person-dependent life events. In male respondents, self-criticism showed evidence of partial mediation while doubts about actions and socially prescribed perfectionism did not have significant main effects on Time 2 depression. Clinical and research implications of this important cognitive diathesis domain in association with person-dependent stressful life events and subsequent depression are discussed.

Identity Styles, Self-Reflective Cognition, and Identity Processes: A Study of Adaptive and Maladaptive Dimensions of Self-Analysis

The role that adaptive and maladaptive self-reflective cognitive processes play in identity formation was investigated. Results indicated that an informational identity style was positively associated with self-reflection and an awareness of internal states. A diffuse-avoidant identity style was linked negatively to internal state awareness, but positively to personal rumination. A normative identity style was positively associated with self-rumination. Self-reflective measures did not account for variation in identity commitment scores beyond that explained by the three identity styles. Self-awareness of internal states, however, uniquely predicted identity achievement after the effects of identity processing style were controlled. The role that self-relevant cognitive processes may play in identity formation is considered.

Doing the things we do: A grounded theory of academic procrastination.

The authors conducted a grounded theory study of academic procrastination to explore adaptive and maladaptive aspects of procrastination and to help guide future empirical research. They discuss previous research on the definition and dimensionality of procrastination and describe the study in which interview data were collected in 4 stages, identifying 33 initial categories and 29 macrothemes. Findings were validated by member checks. The authors describe in detail informants' perceptions of procrastination, which were used to construct a 5-component paradigm model that includes adaptive (i.e., cognitive efficiency, peak experience) and maladaptive (i.e., fear of failure, postponement) dimensions of procrastination. These dimensions, in turn, are related to conditions that affect the amount and type of procrastination, as well as cognitive (i.e., prioritizing, optimization) and affective (i.e., reframing, self-handicapping) coping mechanisms. The authors propose 6 general principles and relate them and the paradigm model to previous research. Limitations of the research are discussed, as well as implications for future theory development and validation.

Perfectionism, stress, and social (dis)connection: A short-term study of hopelessness, depression, and academic adjustment among honors students.

This study tested models of perfectionism predicting psychological distress and academic adjustment and moderators and mediators of those associations in 2 successive cohorts of high-achieving university honors students (N = 499). Participants completed measures early and late in the semester. Adaptive (high standards) and maladaptive (self-critical perceptions of inadequacy in meeting performance expectations) dimensions of perfectionism were found to be significantly associated, in generally expected directions, with concurrent and prospective perceived stress, social connectedness, depression, hopelessness, and perceived academic adjustment. However, some perfectionism effects were reduced when earlier psychological distress and adjustment were controlled in analyses predicting later distress and adjustment. Several effects were moderated and at least partially mediated by perceived stress and social connection. The results suggest several counseling implications for high-achieving, perfectionistic students.

Assessing Multidimensional Physical Activity Motivation: A Construct Validity Study of High School Students

This study presents a new, multidimensional approach to physical activity motivation that is operationalized through four primary factors: adaptive cognitive dimensions, adaptive behavioral dimensions, impeding cognitive dimensions, and maladaptive behavioral dimensions. Among 171 Australian high school students, the study assessed the structure of this four-factor framework (a within-network construct validity approach) and also examined the relationships between motivation and three key correlates: flow in physical activity, physical self-concept, and physical activity level (a between-network construct validity approach). The four-factor framework demonstrated within-network validity in the form of reliable subscales and a sound factor structure. In terms of between-network validity, relationships between the adaptive behavioral and cognitive aspects of motivation and physical self-concept, flow, and activity levels were found to be positive and significant, whereas significant inverse relationships were found between impeding and maladaptive motivation dimensions and flow and physical self-concept. Additional analysis utilizing multiple-indicator multiple-cause (MIMIC) modeling showed that during earlier adolescence girls are more motivated than boys to engage in physical activity, but by later adolescence boys are more motivated to do so. Results are interpreted in terms of future directions for possible physical activity interventions aimed at increasing both the uptake and continuation of activity.

Adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of relatedness and self-definition: Relationship with postpartum depression and anxiety

This study investigated the role of adaptive and maladaptive personality dimensions associated with self-definition and relatedness as measured by the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ; Blatt, D’Afflitti, & Quinlan, 1976) in a sample of 244 young mothers. It was hypothesized that only maladaptive personality dimensions related to self-definition and relatedness (i.e., Self-Critical Perfectionism and Dependency), but not adaptive dimensions (i.e., Efficacy and Relatedness), would be associated with severity of depression and anxiety in the postpartum period. In addition, it was hypothesized that Dependency would be more strongly associated with anxiety symptoms, while Self-Critical Perfectionism was expected to be more strongly related to severity of depression. Results showed that, as expected, Self-Critical Perfectionism, but not Efficacy, was related to depressive feelings in the postpartum period. However, contrary to expectations, Relatedness, but not Dependence, was associated with severity of depression and trait anxiety. Self-Critical Perfectionism was against expectations more strongly related to both severity of depression and anxiety. Results were similar for first-time versus multiparous mothers. Although further research needs to replicate these findings, results of this study suggest that clinicians should pay attention to personality issues in working with pregnant women or young mothers.

The Relationship Between Teachers' Perceptions of Student Motivation and Engagement and Teachers' Enjoyment of and Confidence in Teaching

This paper examines teachers' perceptions of their students' motivation and engagement and their enjoyment of and confidence in teaching. Drawing on Martin's Student Motivation and Engagement Scale, 10 facets of motivation and engagement were explored amongst a sample of 1,019 teachers. These facets comprised three adaptive cognitive dimensions of motivation (self‐efficacy, valuing of school, mastery orientation), three adaptive behavioural dimensions (planning, study management, persistence), two impeding dimensions (anxiety, failure avoidance), and two maladaptive dimensions (uncertain control, self‐handicapping). Male teachers tended to report significantly higher student motivation and engagement than female teachers (though effect sizes were small) and primary school teachers reported significantly higher student motivation and engagement than high school teachers (effect sizes were moderate). Adaptive dimensions were more strongly associated with enjoyment and confidence in teaching than impeding and maladaptive dimensions. Of the adaptive dimensions, students' mastery orientation was the strongest correlate of teachers' enjoyment of teaching and students' persistence and students' planning were the strongest correlates of teachers' confidence in teaching. These associations were more marked for male teachers and relatively independent of years spent teaching. Implications for teacher education and professional development are discussed.

Multidimensional Perfectionism and Rogerian Personality Constructs

The Feelings, Reactions, and Beliefs Survey (FRBS) was administered to 141 undergraduate students to evaluate differences in Rogerian personality constructs among adaptive, maladaptive, and nonperfectionists. The groups differed significantly on 5 FRBS subscales; Fully Functioning Person, Struggling With Feelings of Inferiority, Openness to Feelings in Relationships, Feeling Ambivalent in Relationships, and Focusing Conscious Attention.

Perfectionism, Dysfunctional Attitudes, and Self‐Esteem: A Structural Equations Analysis

The researchers in this study examined the association between adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism and self‐esteem. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equations modeling were used to develop and test a model derived from theoretical links between perfectionism and self‐esteem. Path models revealed that adaptive perfectionism was positively associated with self‐esteem and maladaptive perfectionism was negatively associated with self‐esteem. Implications of discriminating between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism in counseling research and practice are discussed.

Self-esteem as a mediator between perfectionism and depression: A structural equations analysis.

This study of college students (N = 464) examined the association between adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism and 2 mental health outcomes (self-esteem and depression). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to develop and assess the measurement model used in this study. Structural equations modeling was used to test a mediational model derived from prior theory and research. Analyses supported the existence of 2 perfectionism factors. Path models revealed that adaptive perfectionism was not directly or indirectly (through self-esteem) associated with depression. Maladaptive perfectionism was negatively associated with self-esteem and positively associated with depression. Self-esteem also buffered the effects of maladaptive perfectionism on depression. Distinguishing adaptive from maladaptive perfectionism is discussed in the context of recommendations for practice and future research.

Conflict-Resolution Strategies and Adolescent Identity Development

I explored the influence of parent–adolescent conflict on identity development by examining the identity status of 278 migrant and mainstream adolescents in relation to methods of dealing with disagreements with parents. Results were generally consistent with Erikson's theory, with the 8% minority of teenagers who habitually disputed so violently with their parents as to attempt to inflict verbal or physical injury scoring higher on the diffusion maladaptive identity dimension, whereas the 26% who routinely avoided all forms of heated discussion or argument scored nonsignificantly higher on identity foreclosure.