Maladaptive Perfectionism Research Articles

When perfectionists adopt health behaviors: perfectionism and self-efficacy as determinants of health behavior, anxiety and depression

BackgroundThe study aims to show interrelations between self-efficacy, perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive), health behavior, and mental health outcomes such as anxiety and depression as an exponent in maintaining optimal health. In the analyses, we focused on one category of health behaviors – preventive practices.Participants and procedureOf the gathered data, 295 complete datasets were analyzed (age: M = 28.16, SD = 9.41; 72.8% participants female). We pro-posed two path models with personality traits (as exogenous variables) and health behaviors (as endogenous variables) in predicting depression and anxiety.ResultsMultiple regression analysis revealed that maladaptive perfectionism and generalized self-efficacy significantly predicted health behaviors in general and mental health outcomes whereas adaptive perfectionism and generalized self-efficacy were significant predictors of preventive practices. The path analyses showed that generalized self-efficacy and perfectionism are related directly to mental health outcomes as well as indirectly, through health behaviors. Interestingly, we found a negative indirect effect of an interaction between generalized self-efficacy and preventive practices as well as of an interac-tion between adaptive perfectionism and preventive practices on mental health outcomes. The model fitted well with the data.ConclusionsThe findings show that a balanced and more holistic approach to maintaining health is beneficial for people high in self-efficacy in comparison with high focus on disease prevention. Additionally, the results demonstrate that adaptive perfec-tionists and people high in self-efficacy may also be prone to anxiety and depression (not just maladaptive perfectionists) when their health focus is too narrow.

Does self-esteem mediate the association between perfectionism and mindfulness among Lebanese university students?

ObjectivesTo evaluate the associations between mindfulness, self-esteem and perfectionism in a Lebanese sample of university students, as well as the indirect effect of self-esteem between mindfulness and perfectionism was investigated.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out between July and September 2021. A total of 363 university students were recruited through convenience sampling through several universities in Lebanon’s governorates. An online survey that included a part that collected sociodemographic information, the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory to assess mindfulness, the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale to assess self-esteem and the Big Three Perfectionism Scale to assess perfectionism was completed by participants.ResultsHigher self-esteem (Beta = 1.30) was significantly associated with more mindfulness, whereas higher self-critical perfectionism (Beta = − 0.61) was significantly associated with less mindfulness. Self-esteem mediated the association between self-critical and narcissistic perfectionism and mindfulness. More perfectionism was significantly and directly associated with less mindfulness and lower self-esteem, whereas higher self-esteem was significantly associated with more mindfulness.ConclusionThis study provides valuable findings that enable practitioners to effectively identify people needing interventions to improve psychological health through mindfulness, self-esteem and perfectionism. The conclusions that can be deduced from this study can help educational psychologists and counselors guide university students towards effective mindfulness practices that can increase self-esteem levels and balance maladaptive perfectionism that can cause distress and impairment in the social and academic settings.

Exploring the Dark side of conscientiousness. The relationship between conscientiousness and its potential derailers: perfectionism and narcissism

The current study aimed to identify what individual differences and situational variables cause derailment in highly conscientious people. Data were from a representative working sample of 716 participants across 27 industries, spanning both management and non-management roles. We tested four hypotheses with regard to bright- and dark-side personality traits and the relationship between boss/manager and staff member. Hierarchical linear regressions revealed mixed findings for Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) as a stressor. For maladaptive perfectionism it was confirmed, but not for adaptive perfectionism or narcissism. Results suggest introverts may be more prone to maladaptive perfectionism, even with higher levels of conscientiousness if there are lower LMX levels. Overall, the findings suggest selecting for conscientiousness alone and discounting other personality traits and situational variables may be detrimental in practice. Further implications are discussed alongside the study limitations.

Maladaptive Perfectionist of Excellent School Students

This study aims to find out the perfectionist picture of adaptive malls of superior school students. This type of research is a type of qualitative research with a phenomenological method. The data collection methods used are interviews and observations. The data collection technique used is purposive sampling. Meanwhile, the analysis techniques used consist of preparing data, reading the entire data, coding data, applying data coding techniques into themes to be analyzed, presenting themes in a form of narrative, and interpreting data. The results showed that the four subjects, namely MAB, D, DA, and FA, experienced adaptive mall perfectionists. It is influenced by factors from the family and factors from the environment. The demands of being a perfectionist student make MAB, D, DA, and FA experience adaptive mall perfectionists.

Resilience and positive coping style affect the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination among Chinese undergraduate nursing students.

Previous studies have not investigated the role of resilience and coping style on the association between maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination among nursing undergraduates. However, how to mobilize the learning enthusiasm of nursing students and reduce the incidence of academic procrastination is an important factor to reduce nursing loss and improve nursing quality. To investigate the influence of maladaptive perfectionism, resilience and coping style on academic procrastination among Chinese undergraduate nursing students. A cross-sectional study was conducted. A convenience sampling method was used to select 665 nursing undergraduates from March to May 2022 in China. Maladaptive perfectionism, coping style, resilience, and academic procrastination were measured using questionnaires. The descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis and the Hayes' PROCESS Macro in SPSS 25.0 were used to test the model. The results showed that nursing undergraduates' maladaptive perfectionism, resilience, positive coping style and academic procrastination were significantly correlated between every two variables, with coefficients ranging between -0.290 and 0.584. In addition, resilience played a partial mediating role in maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination, accounting for 15.70% of the total effect; in the meantime, this process was moderated by positive coping style. Maladaptive perfectionism positively predicted nursing undergraduates' academic procrastination; as a mediating mechanism with moderating, resilience and positive coping style further explained how maladaptive perfectionism promoted the academic procrastination of nursing undergraduates. Understanding this mechanism is of great significance for nursing educators to reduce the risk of academic procrastination in nursing undergraduates.

Too much of a good thing: Differentiating intellectual humility from servility in higher education

ABSTRACT Recent studies have suggested that intellectual humility (IH) might facilitate (a) better learning outcomes, (b) more scientific mindedness, and (c) better peer and professional relationships. However, recent philosophical work has raised concerns that too much IH might lead to intellectual servility (IS), and thus might be vicious (albeit not blameworthy) rather than virtuous. We define IS as a disposition to over-own one’s intellectual limitations and disregard one’s intellectual strengths. We begin by outlining the importance of distinguishing IS from IH, noting that marginalized social groups (e.g., students of color) may be at greater risk for developing the vice of IS than the vice of intellectual arrogance. Then, in a sample of 94 racially diverse undergraduate students, we provide evidence that IS may be detrimental in educational contexts. IS was positively related to maladaptive perfectionism, and it was negatively related to civic engagement, conscientiousness, and openness. We conclude by discussing implications for fostering virtuous IH in higher educational settings. Namely, if IH interventions do not correct for the possibility of over-owning limitations, we risk exacerbating IS.

The Role of Self-Compassion Among Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionists in University Students

Using the tripartite model of perfectionism that accounts for combined characteristics of the Perfectionistic Strivings and Perfectionistic Concerns dimensions, this study explored the mediating role of self-compassion to explain differences between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists in four psychological distress domains: depression, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and academic distress. A sample of 3,112 university students were classified into adaptive, maladaptive, and nonperfectionists. Results of mediation analyses comparing adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists indicated that adaptive perfectionists reported significantly greater self-compassion and lower psychological distress levels in all four areas. Self-compassion significantly mediated the associations between perfectionist groups in all four domains. These findings were largely supported across various ethnic and international student groups in the analyses by subgroups. Furthermore, parallel mediation analyses demonstrated the unique contributions of individual self-compassion subscales as mediators. Implications for clinical practice, training, and future research are discussed.

"I must be perfect": The role of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the competitive anxiety of Hungarian athletes.

In this study the influence of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the emergence of competitive anxiety was investigated. While previous studies indicate that higher irrational beliefs predict greater competitive anxiety, in the present study it is hypothesized that this relationship is mediated by perfectionism. A serial atemporal multiple mediation analysis revealed that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism were significant partial mediators between irrational beliefs and competitive anxiety. The total score and all four subscale scores on irrational beliefs had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive competitive anxiety, the latter effects mediated by both forms of perfectionism. Depreciation beliefs had a direct effect, and demandingness and awfulizing had indirect effects, on somatic competitive anxiety when both forms of perfectionism were entered as mediators. These findings suggest that both irrational beliefs and perfectionism influence the emergence of competitive anxiety, therefore rational emotive behavioral therapy with a focus upon perfectionism may be an effective means of reducing competitive anxiety in athletes.

Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Maladaptive Perfectionism, Negative Body Image, Anxiety, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations

Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Maladaptive Perfectionism, Negative Body Image, Anxiety, and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations

Differentiation of Self and Internal Distress: The Mediating Roles of Vulnerable Narcissism and Maladaptive Perfectionism

Differentiation of Self and Internal Distress: The Mediating Roles of Vulnerable Narcissism and Maladaptive Perfectionism

Gender differences in self-compassion: a latent profile analysis of compassionate and uncompassionate self-relating in a large adolescent sample

Self-compassion, a healthy way of relating to oneself, may promote psychological resilience during adolescence. How adolescents engage with self-compassion, and whether they have distinct self-compassionate or uncompassionate psychological profiles, is unclear. This study investigated potential self-compassion profiles based on responses to the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF) and examined their relationship with a range of mental health symptoms and cognitive and emotional tendencies. A large cross-sectional sample of high school students (N = 950; Mage = 13.70 years, SDage = 0.72, range = 12 to 16 years; 434 female and 495 male) completed several online self-report measures including the SCS-SF. Latent profile analysis identified parsimonious self-compassion profiles by gender using the six SCS-SF subscales. Five female profiles included ‘Low Self-Relating’, ‘Uncompassionate’, ‘High Self-Relating’, ‘Moderately Compassionate’ and ‘Highly Compassionate’. Comparatively, two male profiles included ‘Low Self-Relating’ and ‘Moderately Self-Relating’. Low Self-Relating involved low levels of both compassionate and uncompassionate responding, and Moderately Self-Relating involved higher levels of both. Low Self-Relating and Highly Compassionate profiles for females consistently reported lower levels of anxiety and depression symptoms, maladaptive perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, repetitive thinking and avoidance-fusion thinking patterns compared to the other female profiles. Low Self-Relating males reported more adaptive outcomes compared to Moderate Self-Relating males. These findings illustrate important adolescent gender differences in compassionate and uncompassionate self-response profiles. Results suggest self-compassion is an important psychological construct with diverse mental health benefits for females, whereas for males a lack of attachment to either response styles are linked with better psychological outcomes.

Pengaruh Perfeksionisme Terhadap Kecemasan Ujian Siswa Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri 1 Kabupaten Takalar

Individuals with perfectionism will feel anxious while facing the test. This research aims to examine how perfectionism has influence on the test anxiety of the 12th grade student at SMAN 1 Takalar. The research was conducted on students who had taken the Computer Based Written Test (UTBK) in 2020 and had tendency to perfectionism. Throughout cluster random sampling technique, the participants of this research were 107 people. The results showed that perfectionism had a significant effect on test anxiety, with a correlation coefficient of 0.085. The implication of this study is useful for schools to minimize the possibility of test anxiety by paying more attention to the tendency of maladaptive perfectionism in students.

Mediating Mechanisms of Perfectionism: Clinical Comorbidity of OCD and ED.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (ED) share common causal factors and often represent similar entities. Studies on obsessive-compulsive disorders and eating disorders reveal a significant correlation between maladaptive perfectionism. The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive variables of perfectionism in patients diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and OCD using a structural equation model (SEM). The sample consisted of 187 participants (60.9% women, 39.1% men) with a mean age of 26.68 (SD = 10.97). The findings reveal that the model is the same in all the disorders evaluated, achieving an adequate fit: χ2 = 7.95 (p = 0.000), RMSEA = 0.087 (95% confidence interval: 0.00 to 0.02), CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.951 and with an overall predictive capacity of around 30% (CD = 0.318). It is recommended that future studies address the subtypes of disorders evaluated using longitudinal designs.

Maladaptive perfectionism and its implication in medical school selection: A personal view

Maladaptive perfectionism and its implication in medical school selection: A personal view

Risk factors in body image dissatisfaction: gender, maladaptive perfectionism, and psychological wellbeing

Discontent with one’s appearance (body image dissatisfaction) has become a global phenomenon, associated with the development of extreme behaviours in order to correct perceived body image problems. Much of the literature has focused on associated destructive behaviours that result from body image dissatisfaction; however, there has been a dearth of research examining risk factors for body image problems in adults. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate risk factors associated with adult body image problems, focusing on two variables highlighted in the literature (gender and maladaptive perfectionism). The current study (1) compared gender differences in body image dissatisfaction and (2) investigated psychological wellbeing as a mediator between maladaptive perfectionism and body image dissatisfaction. The sample included 139 Australian adults from universities (55.7%) and the community (44.3%). Participants completed demographic questions, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Psychological Wellbeing questionnaire, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In contrast to predictions, females had higher body area satisfaction and appearance evaluation scores. Furthermore, in line with the hypotheses, psychological wellbeing fully mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and poor body image. The findings suggest gender, maladaptive perfectionism, and psychological wellbeing may act as risk factors for body image dissatisfaction.

Depression and anxiety from acculturative stress: Maladaptive perfectionism as a mediator and mindfulness as a moderator.

Depression and anxiety from acculturative stress: Maladaptive perfectionism as a mediator and mindfulness as a moderator.

Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism of graduating medical students

IntroductionPerfectionism, as a multiform trait of character, plays an important role in the formation of motivation of achievements in socially significant activity. Adaptive perfectionism, together with the desire to achieve recognition in one’s professional community and insure the emotional stability. Maladaptive (neurotic) perfectionism is directed towards the achievement of excessively high (non-relevant) standards of activity, a constant anxiety, internal stress and lack of self-confidenceObjectivesTo pinpoint the types of perfectionism that graduating medical students at Medical University experience, those who, during all the years of study, showed high academic resultsMethodsForty-nine graduating medical students volunteered to take part in the study, their average mark being not lower than 4.75 (maximum was 5). Their average age was 22.41±0.75. The following scales measured the level of expressiveness of perfectionism: A.A. Zolotareva, Hewitt and Flett, I.I. GrachevaResultsThe results of the study undertaken showed two distinct groups. Students of the first group (79.6%) aimed at high internal standards in their study that would make them very well prepared professionally for their future work as doctors. They consciously accepted the common rules and norms of their society. Students of the other group (20.4%), consciously and subconsciously, estimate their high academic results as a good way of overcoming personal disturbances. They have excessive non-realistic demands towards self and othersConclusionsThe results of our study make it possible for us to suppose that medical students of the second group will experience quite a lot of difficulties in their future professional activityDisclosureNo significant relationships.

Low level of perfectionism as a possible risk factor for suicide in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

IntroductionPrevious research highlighted that adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are four times as vulnerable to suicidal behavior as the healthy population. Maladaptive perfectionism is also viewed as an important risk factor for suicide. Yet, there are no studies which focused on the relationship between perfectionism and suicide among adolescents with ADHD.ObjectivesThe objective of the present study was to explore if perfectionism may be a risk factor for suicidal behavior in adolescents with ADHD.MethodsThe clinical group was recruited from outpatient clinics, while the non-clinical group was recruited from high schools around Hungary. The clinical group’s inclusion criterion was ADHD diagnoses, while the non-clinical group required the absence of any current or past psychiatric treatment or diagnoses.ResultsIn the ADHD group 88 adolescents participated, and 96 adolescents participated in the non-clinical group. There was no difference regarding the level of perfectionism in the groups, except one dimension of perfectionism, which is ‘Organization’. The ADHD group had significantly higher level of suicidal behavior than the control group ((χ2 (1) = 11.222, p < .001, V = 0.25). Among the ADHD group adaptive perfectionism was significantly negatively correlated with suicidal behaviour.ConclusionsAdolescents with ADHD did not have a different level of perfectionism than the healthy control group only in ‘Organization’ trait. This result could add to the therapeutic work with adolescents diagnosed with ADHD with underlining the importance to focus on organizational skills. The result highlights that adaptive perfectionism appears to be a protective factor against suicidality.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

The prevalence of perfectionism and positive mental health in undergraduate students

The purpose of this cross-sectional survey was to assess the relationship between mental health and perfectionist personality styles within Dalhousie University’s undergraduate psychology program (N = 191). Positive mental health is characterized by high social, emotional, and psychological functioning in everyday life. Perfectionism has traditionally been studied as a correlate of poor mental health, although relatively recent research has offered a reconceptualization wherein the adaptiveness of perfectionism can support positive mental health. In particular, the perfectionist personality style may be categorized as three types: non-perfectionist, maladaptive perfectionist, and adaptive perfectionist. We classified participants based on their perfectionist personality style and assessed the distribution of mental health level and variation of mental health scores across the different perfectionist personality styles. Overall, we found a pattern of high mental health scores in adaptive perfectionists, moderate mental health scores in non-perfectionists, and low mental health scores in maladaptive perfectionists, suggesting that mental health varies systematically with type of perfectionism. Our findings demonstrate that perfectionism can be an adaptive personality style and positively relate to mental health. Our study supports the reconceptualized definition of perfectionism as a potentially adaptive personality style.

Family Profiles of Maladaptive Perfectionists among Asian International Students

Maladaptive perfectionists with high perfectionistic standards and discrepancy are at risk for negative psychological outcomes. Among Asian international students, family perfectionism is an important concern due to cultural values concerning honoring familial expectations, conformity, and fulfilling obligations for scholastic achievement. This study examined 190 Asian international students in the United States that prescreened as having maladaptive perfectionism. Among them, hierarchical and k-means cluster analyses revealed three types of perfectionistic families: adaptive, maladaptive, and nonperfectionistic. A oneway analysis of variance revealed that participants from maladaptive families experienced higher depression, general anxiety, and suicidal ideation than those from adaptive or nonperfectionistic families. Those from maladaptive or nonperfectionistic families reported higher social anxiety, academic distress, eating concerns, and lower life satisfaction than those from adaptive families. These findings highlight the importance of maladaptive perfectionists’ family backgrounds in understanding Asian international student mental health. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.