Parental Criticism Research Articles

The impact of perfectionism on situational judgment among Chinese civil flying cadets: The roles of safety motivation and self-efficacy

The objective of this study is to test a mediation model in which safety motivation and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between perfectionism and situational judgment in Chinese civil flying cadets. We collected self-reported data from 218 civil flying cadets from Civil Aviation Flight University of China. The results show that concern over mistakes and personal standards have direct effects on flying cadets' situational judgment. Concern over mistakes, parental expectation and organization have indirect effects on flying cadets’ situational judgment through safety motivation; whereas concern over mistakes and parental criticism have indirect effects through self-efficacy. Managerial implications of the study as well as the future research directions are discussed.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the frost et al multidimensional perfectionism scale-24 (F-MPS 24)

IntroductionThe F-Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale is a widely used instrument to assess perfectionism trait. The original scale comprises 35-items that measure the six dimensions of Frost et al (1990) conceptualization of perfectionism: personal standards (PS), concern over mistakes (CM), doubts about actions (DA), parental criticism (PC), Parental expectations (PE) and Organization (O).ObjectiveTo examine the factor structure of the 24-items short form of the F-MPS using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), in a sample of Portuguese university students.MethodsThe sample comprises 344 university students (68.4% females), with an average age of 20.69 years (SD = 1.59; range = 17–24). They completed a version of F-MPS with 24 items that results from the selection of the four items with highest loadings in the respective six dimensions of the original Portuguese version (Amaral et al., 2013).ResultsAfter correlated errors, we obtained a good fit for the FMPS with six factors (X2/df = 2.125; CFI = .936; GFI = .891, RMSEA = .057; P[rmsea≤ .05] = .043). The 24-item F-MPS short form revealed good internal consistency (α = .825). The six dimensions showed acceptable or good internal consistency, as revealed by Cronbach's alpha (α: PS = .80; CM = .76; DA = .82; PC = .84; PE = .89, O = .85).ConclusionsThe F-MPS 24 items short form CFA confirmed the six factor model as a reliable and valid measure to assess multidimensional perfectionism in Portuguese university students.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Maladaptive Perfectionism and Depression and State-Trait Anxiety: A Mediational Analysis With Self-Esteem

Perfectionism refers to a strong need to perform at a flawless level and has been linked to positive and negative outcomes depending on its adaptive or maladaptive nature. Models of maladaptive perfectionism often focus on low self-worth or self-esteem, though mediational findings have been few in number and not presented in depth. The present study focused on more detailed mediational analyses that involved separate examinations of gender as well as specific aspects of depression and anxiety to clarify the role of self-esteem as a potential mediator. Findings revealed full mediation regarding self-esteem only for men and only for depression and trait anxiety. Post hoc analyses revealed these mediation effects were specific to two aspects of perfectionism: concern over mistakes (depression and trait anxiety) and parental criticism (trait anxiety). Potential pathways from maladaptive perfectionism to depression and trait anxiety in men may thus include variables that influence self-esteem. Such variables m...

Distinguishing self-oriented perfectionism-striving and self-oriented perfectionism-critical in school-aged children: Divergent patterns of perceived parenting, personal affect and school performance

Parental expectations and criticism are associated with Self-Oriented Perfectionism-strivings (SOP-striving) and Self-Oriented Perfectionism-critical (SOP-critical)11SOP-striving refers to self-oriented perfectionism-striving subscale; SOP-critical refers to self-oriented perfectionism-critical subscale. respectively, when retrospectively examining parenting during childhood, but have never been examined within an actual child sample. Similarly, the differential relations of SOP-striving and SOP-critical to affect and academic achievement have rarely been tested within a child sample, nor has the association of these parenting behaviors with these outcomes been explored. The present study consisted of 203 children, aged 8 to 12. Results replicated previous findings within a child sample, indicating that parental expectations are associated with SOP-striving (b=0.29, p<0.001), which is associated with academic achievement (b=0.30, p<0.001), while parental criticism is associated with SOP-critical (b=0.31, p<0.001), which is associated with negative affect (b=0.28, p<0.001). Moreover, the results reveal these parenting behaviors are related to children's affect and academic achievements, both directly and indirectly through perfectionism. The present investigation lends credence to the Social Expectations Model (Flett, Hewitt, Oliver, & MacDonald, 2002) by providing evidence within the target population, and highlights the divergent patterns of SOP-striving and SOP-critical.

Risk factors for comorbid oppositional defiant disorder in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is highly prevalent in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Individuals with both ADHD and ODD (ADHD + ODD) show a considerably worse prognosis compared with individuals with either ADHD or ODD. Therefore, identification of risk factors for ADHD + ODD is essential and may contribute to the development of (early) preventive interventions. Participants were matched for age, gender, and ADHD-subtype (diagnostic groups), and did not differ in IQ. Predictors included pre- and perinatal risk factors (pregnancy duration, birth weight, maternal smoking during pregnancy), transgenerational factors (parental ADHD; parental warmth and criticism in diagnostic groups), and postnatal risk factors (parental socioeconomic status [SES], adverse life events, deviant peer affiliation). Three models were assessed, investigating risk factors for ADHD-only versus controls (N = 86), ADHD + ODD versus controls (N = 86), and ADHD + ODD versus ADHD-only (N = 90). Adverse life events and parental ADHD were risk factors for both ADHD + ODD and ADHD-only, and more adverse life events were an even stronger risk factor for comorbid ODD compared with ADHD-only. For ADHD + ODD, but not ADHD-only, parental criticism, deviant peer affiliation, and parental SES acted as risk factors. Maternal smoking during pregnancy acted as minor risk factor for ADHD-only, while higher birth weight acted as minor risk factor for ADHD + ODD. No effects of age were present. Findings emphasise the importance of these factors in the development of comorbid ODD. The identified risk factors may prove to be essential in preventive interventions for comorbid ODD in ADHD, highlighting the need for parent-focused interventions to take these factors into account.

A Cognitive-Behavioral-Based Workshop Intervention for Maladaptive Perfectionism

Maladaptive perfectionism (MP) can have adverse consequences for mental and physical health and can interfere with treatment success for various conditions. Theoretical conceptualizations of MP largely surround overly rigid and self-critical thinking as well as excessively high standards. Treatment for MP thus often focuses on these cognitive aspects and has been successful, albeit lengthy. The present study evaluated a brief cognitive-behavioral workshop for those with high, moderate, and low MP, which was defined as a composite of perfectionism subscales that included concern over mistakes, doubting of actions, parental criticism, parental expectations, and discrepancy. Workshop components focused on psychoeducation about MP, setting high standards, fearing mistakes and doubting oneself, and preventing distress and maintaining gains. Ratings of MP as well as anxiety, depression, and distress were significantly lower from pre-treatment across post-treatment and 3-week and 3-month follow-up assessments for those with high and moderate MP. Participants with low MP showed no significant change over time, as expected. The workshop thus provided a useful, brief, and cost-effective intervention for MP and related distress. Clinical implications are discussed, including routine assessment of MP in clinical practice, intervention for MP early in the clinical process, specific focus on self-criticism and setting high standards, and implementation in university counseling centers. Recommendations for future research are also discussed, including dismantling of workshop components, identifying treatment mechanisms, expanding to clinical populations, evaluating more diverse samples, and understanding the possible preventative aspects of a workshop approach.

When Mothers and Fathers Are Seen as Disproportionately Valuing Achievements: Implications for Adjustment Among Upper Middle Class Youth.

High achievement expectations and academic pressure from parents have been implicated in rising levels of stress and reduced well-being among adolescents. In this study of affluent, middle school youth, we examined how perceptions of parents' emphases on achievement (relative to prosocial behavior) influenced youth's psychological adjustment and school performance, and examined perceived parental criticism as a possible moderator of this association. The data were collected from 506 (50 % female) middle school students from a predominately white, upper middle class community. Students reported their perceptions of parents' values by rank ordering a list of achievement- and prosocial-oriented goals based on what they believed was most valued by their mothers and fathers for them (the child) to achieve. The data also included students' reports of perceived parental criticism, internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and self-esteem, as well as school-based data on grade point average and teacher-reported classroom behavior. Person-based analyses revealed six distinct latent classes based on perceptions of both mother and father emphases on achievement. Class comparisons showed a consistent pattern of healthier child functioning, including higher school performance, higher self-esteem, and lower psychological symptoms, in association with low to neutral parental achievement emphasis, whereas poorer child functioning was associated with high parental achievement emphasis. In variable-based analyses, interaction effects showed elevated maladjustment when high maternal achievement emphasis coexisted with high (but not low) perceived parental criticism. Results of the study suggest that to foster early adolescents' well-being in affluent school settings, parents focus on prioritizing intrinsic, prosocial values that promote affiliation and community, at least as much as, or more than, they prioritize academic performance and external achievement; and strive to limit the amount of criticism and pressure they place on their children.

Influence of Parental Expressed Emotions on Children's Emotional Eating via Children's Negative Urgency.

We investigated whether parental expressed emotion (criticism and emotional overinvolvement) is related to children's emotional eating and whether this relationship is mediated by children's negative urgency. One hundred children, aged 8 to 13 years, either healthy or have binge-eating disorder and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, completed the questionnaires, along with their parents. Parental criticism and, to a lesser extent, parental emotional overinvolvement were both positively related to children's emotional eating, and this relationship was mediated by children's negative urgency. Further exploratory analyses revealed that the mediating role of children's negative urgency in the relationship between parental criticism and children's emotional eating was pronounced in the clinical group of children with binge-eating disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder but almost absent in the healthy control group. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Can We Fix This? Parent-Child Repair Processes and Preschoolers' Regulatory Skills.

The repair of difficult parent-child interactions is a marker of healthy functioning in infancy, but less is known about repair processes during early childhood. We used dynamic systems methods to investigate dyadic repair in mothers and their 3-year-old children (N = 96) and its prediction of children's emotion regulation and behavior problems at a four-month follow-up. Mothers and children completed free play and challenging puzzle tasks. Repair was operationalized as the conditional probability of moving into a dyadic adaptive behavior region after individual or dyadic maladaptive behavior (e.g., child noncompliance, parental criticism). Overall, dyads repaired approximately half their maladaptive behaviors. A greater likelihood of repair during the puzzle task predicted better child emotion regulation and fewer behavior problems in preschool. Results suggest dyadic repair is an important process in early childhood and provide further evidence for the connection between parent-child coregulation and children's developing regulatory capacities. Implications for family-based interventions are discussed.

Factors related to Taiwanese adolescents' academic procrastination, time management, and perfectionism

ABSTRACTThere is a shortage of studies that explore adolescents' academic procrastination. The author hence attempted to examine the mechanisms determining Taiwanese adolescent students' perfectionistic tendencies, time management, and academic procrastination. A total of 405 eighth-grade Taiwanese students completed a self-reported survey assessing their perceptions of classroom structure, parental expectations and criticism, perfectionistic tendencies, time management, and academic procrastination. Findings of regression analyses indicated that parental expectations and criticism were the key predictors of students' adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism. Students' perceptions of classroom structure also positively predicted their adaptive perfectionism. Moreover, results of hierarchical regressions suggested that perceived classroom structure, parental expectations and criticism, as well as adaptive perfectionism all emerged as predictors of time management. With regard to procrastination on homework and examination preparation, parental expectations and adaptive perfectionism were negative predictors, whereas parental criticism and maladaptive perfectionism were positive predictors. Also, time management negatively predicted academic procrastination.

The Indirect Effect of Perceived Criticism on Suicide Ideation and Attempts

The effect of perceived criticism from others is one potentially important risk factor for suicide that has received scant attention, despite decades of research on the role of criticism in the treatment and course of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and mood disorders. This study analyzed the effect of perceived criticism's association with suicidal ideation and attempts as well as its connection with the suicide related constructs thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness as described in the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. Fifty participants (66% female, MAge = 18.7), 18 of whom had previously made one or more suicide attempts, completed a battery of self-report assessments as well as two in-person, structured clinical interviews. Analyses demonstrated that perceived parental criticism is a significant indicator of suicide ideation (β = .297, p = .003) and attempts (β = .373, p < .001) and that perceived criticism from close friends is a significant indicator of suicide attempts (β = .297, p = .006). Perceived criticism has a strong indirect effect on suicide ideation and attempts through its effect on thwarted belongingness, but not perceived burdensomeness, while controlling for mental illnesses. Some limitations of this study include the cross-sectional design and the use of a relatively small, restricted age sample. Treatment designed to mitigate perceived criticism and thwarted belongingness may be an important component in combatting suicidal ideation and attempts, particularly among young adults.

Anxiety mediates the relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and insomnia disorder

Individuals with insomnia often report aspects of perfectionism alongside symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, there has been limited examination of these factors together. The current study investigated whether individuals with insomnia report increased perfectionism compared to normal-sleepers. Further, the mediating role of anxiety and depression was examined. Participants were 39 individuals with DSM-5 defined Insomnia Disorder, and 39 normal-sleepers, who completed two measures of multidimensional perfectionism and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results demonstrated that, compared to normal-sleepers, individuals with insomnia display increased perfectionistic traits of: concern over mistakes, doubts about action, and parental criticism. In addition, these differences were partiality mediated by symptoms of anxiety, but not depression. Our findings highlight the significance of treating symptoms of anxiety with the prospect of alleviating negative thoughts concerning one's mistakes, doubts about action, and perception of parental criticism, which may contribute to insomnia.

Associations between procrastination, personality, perfectionism, self-esteem and locus of control

ABSTRACTTo date, many variables but particularly trait-like psychological constructs have been found to strongly contribute to procrastination but the complex relations among these variables collectively have received almost no attention. The purpose of the study was to provide a more profound understanding of the relations between procrastination, perfectionism, big five personality, locus of control and self-esteem. Young adults (162 women, 80 men: M = 20.98) completed measures of academic procrastination, self-esteem, big five personality, perfectionism and locus of control. Parental criticism was a significant correlate of procrastination, while personality traits of conscientiousness, agreeableness and organisation were inversely associated with procrastination behaviour. These findings suggest that personality-based intervention approaches with the inclusion of family can be more influential in procrastination prevention and treatment.

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.

The relationship between perfectionism and discounting measures

Two separate studies examined the relationship between impulsivity, measured with delay discounting, and perfectionism, measured with the Almost Perfect Scale – Revised (APS-R) or the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS). Participants scoring in the top 15% of the perfectionism scales were compared to those scoring in the bottom 85% to reflect the increased perfectionism found in clinical populations. There was no relationship between delay discounting and perfectionism for the APS-R. However, on the FMPS, participants in the top 15% of perfectionism were significantly less impulsive compared to those who scored in the bottom 85%. Two subscales, Doubt and Parental Criticism, showed the strongest negative associations with impulsivity. Results suggest that certain aspects of perfectionism are more strongly associated with impulsivity, as measured with delay discounting, than others. Additionally, these results may have implications for individuals diagnosed with clinical disorders, such as anorexia nervosa (AN), as previous studies have shown that increases in impulsivity and perfectionism also show increases in eating disorders.

Developmental Trajectories of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence and Intrapersonal/Interpersonal Risk Factors.

This 3-wave study investigated the developmental trajectories of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and intrapersonal/interpersonal risk factors among 3,381 Chinese adolescents (56.2% females) aged from 13 to 17years during a 1-year period. Using an accelerated longitudinal design and latent class growth analysis, we identified four subgroups of NSSI trajectories: negligible (74.6%), experimental (12.8%), moderate decreasing (10.8%), and high fluctuating (1.9%). Adolescents reporting both intrapersonal (i.e., impulsive behaviors and depression) and interpersonal (i.e., unstable relationships and parental criticism) risk factors were significantly more likely to follow the latter three trajectories. The findings of this study suggest there is heterogeneity in NSSI development among adolescents and highlight the contributions of both intrapersonal and interpersonal risk factors in the engagement in NSSI.

Attachment‐Based Family Therapy for Suicidal Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adolescents: A Case Study

The majority of sexual minority adolescents are well‐adjusted and healthy, however, on average, 28% report suicidal ideation and between 15% and 40% make a suicide attempt each year. These rates are two to seven times higher than those found among heterosexual youths. Research has shown the protective function of parental support and acceptance, as well as the deleterious effects of parental criticism, invalidation, and rejection on the mental health of sexual minority adolescents. Given these risk and protective factors, these adolescents might benefit from an intervention that targets family relationships. Toward this goal, Attachment‐Based Family Therapy (ABFT) specifically aims to improve the quality of adolescent–parent relationships. In prior treatment developmental work, ABFT was adapted and pilot tested for depressed and suicidal lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents. By adopting an evidence‐based case study format, this paper provides a case summary to illustrate how the therapy was conducted. The case study consists of a vignette, followed by therapy task descriptions and illustrative transcripts. Examples of key therapeutic moments in ABFT, for depressed and suicidal LGB adolescents, are discussed in the context of the case.

Factors influencing weight control practices amongst the adolescent girls in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa.

BackgroundThe incidence of overweight is increasing amongst adolescents in many countries around the world. Healthy and unhealthy weight control practices are common amongst overweight and non-overweight adolescents.AimThe aim of this study was to explore factors influencing weight control practices amongst adolescent girls.SettingThe study was conducted at selected secondary schools of Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa.MethodsA qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was used. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used to select adolescents who are practicing weight control. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 participants. Data were analysed according to Tesch’s open-coding method.ResultsThis study revealed that adolescent girls are influenced by a variety of factors to control their weights. These included individual factors, such as body image dissatisfaction; family factors, caused by parental criticism about adolescent weight; and environmental factors, which contain peer group endorsement of dieting.ConclusionAdolescents are exposed to many unhealthy weight control practices, as a way of controlling excess weight. So it is of importance for healthcare providers to make them aware of healthy practices.

Parental criticism, self-criticism and their relation to depressive mood: an exploratory study among a non-clinical population

Internalized self-criticism (ISC) has been identified as one dimension of depression and has been related to poor interpersonal functioning, severity of depressive symptoms among patients with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, and suicidal behaviors. Finally, it has been indicated as a maintaining factor in depression, able to impair the efficacy of psychological treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the role of perceived parental criticism, perfectionistic concern over mistakes and ruminative brooding in predicting internalized self-criticism; in addition, we explored the predictive value of all the considered variables for depressive mood in a nonclinical population. The final model showed a complete mediation for concern over mistakes and ruminative brooding in the relationship between perceived parental criticism and ISC, with the final model explaining 32% of the variance. Moreover, ISC predicted the level of depressive symptoms over and above the contribution of the other variables considered. The findings suggest that a thinking style characterized by ruminative brooding and the tendency to be concerned with mistakes can facilitate the development of a self-critical person, more than a parental style perceived as critical. Moreover, the tendency to be self-critical may be more predictive of depressive symptoms than the other variables considered.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder developmental trajectories related to parental expressed emotion.

In the transition from childhood to adolescence, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) developmental trajectories diverge. Family environment, as indexed by parental expressed emotion, may moderate these trajectories. 388 children with ADHD and 127 controls were assessed using multi-informant, multimethod diagnostic procedures at up to 3 time points 1 year apart in an accelerated longitudinal design spanning ages 7-13 years. Latent-class growth analysis was used to identify developmental trajectories for parent- and teacher-rated ADHD and oppositional-defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms within the ADHD sample. Parental expressed emotion, criticism, and emotional overinvolvement were coded from a 5-min speech sample at 2 time points, 1 year apart, for 208 of these children and compared among ADHD trajectory groups. Parent-rated hyperactivity yielded a 4-class trajectory solution in latent-class growth analysis; teacher-rated inattention yielded a 3-trajectory solution. Teacher-rated ODD also yielded 3-trajectory solution. A parent-rated high persistent hyperactive group was more likely than the other ADHD groups to have parents with stable high criticism (34.6%, p < .001), with ODD symptoms controlled. A teacher-identified high ODD-worsening group was more likely to experience high criticism, particularly the initial time point; (87.5%, p < .001), with hyperactivity controlled. Parental criticism, an index of the family environment, is uniquely associated with divergent developmental trajectories among children with ADHD in addition to those associated with ODD symptoms. Lay summary: For many children, ADHD symptoms decrease as they transition to adolescence. Family environmental factors, such as parental criticism, may help explain for whom symptom remission is less likely.