Personal Standards Perfectionism Research Articles

Self-Critical Perfectionism and Anxious and Depressive Symptoms Over 2 Years: Moderated Mediation Models of Anxiety Sensitivity and Experiential Avoidance

This three-wave longitudinal study of 297 community adults (mean age = 38.66 years, 67% female) examined how anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance work together to explain the relation between perfectionism and anxious and depressive symptoms over 2 years. Participants completed measures of self-critical (SC) and personal standards (PS) higher-order dimensions of perfectionism, anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and anxious and depressive symptoms at Time 1. Participants completed measures of anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and symptoms again at Time 2 one year later, and symptoms measures again at Time 3 two years after baseline. Moderated mediation analyses showed that for those with higher Time 1 experiential avoidance, Time 1 SC perfectionism was indirectly related to Time 3 anxious arousal symptoms through Time 2 anxiety sensitivity. For those with moderate to higher Time 1 anxiety sensitivity, Time 1 SC perfectionism was indirectly associated with Time 3 general distress and anxious arousal symptoms through Time 2 experiential avoidance. These moderated mediation effects were not found for PS perfectionism. These results support anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance as moderating and mediating processes that may be important treatment targets for reducing vulnerability to anxious and depressive symptoms over the longer-term in SC perfectionistic individuals.

Perfectionism in patients with eating disorders: The role of metacognitive beliefs and repetitive negative thinking

AbstractIntroductionUsing the Self‐Regulatory Executive Function model as a basis, this study explored whether, in patients with eating disorders (EDs), metacognitions and repetitive negative thinking are associated with higher levels of perfectionisms.MethodsOne hundred twenty‐three outpatients with EDs were recruited. Perfectionism, metacognitive beliefs, worry, rumination, anger rumination, affective and eating symptoms were assessed. Correlation and hierarchal regression analyses were run.ResultsHigher endorsement of positive beliefs about worry was associated with higher levels of ‘personal standards perfectionism’. Higher endorsement of positive beliefs about worry, need to control thoughts, worry and rumination was associated with higher levels of ‘concern over mistakes perfectionism’.ConclusionsAmong patients with EDs, perfectionism appears to be associated with the endorsement of dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs, worry and rumination. Dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and repetitive negative thinking could be suitable therapeutic targets to reduce the levels of perfectionism among patients with EDs.

Revisiting Perfectionism in High-Level Ballet: A Longitudinal Collective Instrumental Case Study

Using a case study design, we explored two ballet dancers’ perfectionism experiences via interviews and questionnaires at two time points 5 years apart. They represented the two types of “pure perfectionism” in the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism: a female representing pure personal standards perfectionism (high perfectionistic strivings, low perfectionistic concerns) and a male representing pure evaluative concerns perfectionism (low perfectionistic strivings, high perfectionistic concerns). The pure personal standards perfectionism dancer reported stable perfectionism across time, seemingly resilient to any perfectionistic concerns developing. She attributed this to her stable, grounded personality, also reporting autonomous motivation and performance success. The dancer representing pure evaluative concerns perfectionism reported increased perfectionistic strivings and lowered perfectionistic concerns over time; concurrently, his motivation became less controlled and more autonomous. He described the reasons in terms of improved basic psychological needs satisfaction and personal growth. Overall, autonomy might be important in mitigating perfectionism.

Perfectionism, Prolonged Stress Reactivity, and Depression: A Two-Wave Cross-Lagged Analysis.

Perfectionism is a vulnerability factor for a wide array of psychopathology. Despite much evidence suggesting dysregulated stress response as an intermediary process that links perfectionism to psychopathology, the lack of a cross-lagged examination deterred researchers from making causal interpretations. This study examined the directionality of effects among perfectionism dimensions, stress reactivity, and depression. A total of 189 participants at time 1 and 94 at time 2 completed an online survey that consisted of measures of perfectionism, stress reactivity, and depression, one month apart. Cross-lagged analysis results showed that personal standards perfectionism predicted later prolonged stress reactivity but not depression at time 2. Self-critical perfectionism predicted later depression but not prolonged stress reactivity at time 2. Rather, prolonged stress reactivity at time 1 predicted self-critical perfectionism at time 2. Findings suggest that perfectionism dimensions are distinct in creating a dysregulated stress process. Future studies could incorporate other stress-related variables (e.g., coping) to further explicate the stress-generation process, in conjunction with stress reactivity.

Perfectionism, athlete burnout, and engagement: A five-month longitudinal test of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism

Several studies have examined the associations between perfectionism, athlete burnout, and engagement. However, only one study investigated the interplay between personal standards and evaluative concerns perfectionism in predicting changes in athlete burnout over time. Whether the two dimensions of perfectionism interact to predict changes in sport engagement remains unknown. Thus, we used the framework of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism to investigate these effects in a sample of 173 athletes (85 females, 88 males, aged 18 to 39, M = 27.47, SD = 6.11) in two waves, five months apart. Personal standards perfectionism predicted decreases in all symptoms of burnout, except devaluation, and an increase in only one subscale of engagement - dedication. Contrastingly, evaluative concerns perfectionism predicted increases in two symptoms of burnout - exhaustion and reduced sense of accomplishment and decreases in all subscales of engagement. The findings suggest that the paths to alleviating negative and magnifying positive experiences in sport may not be fully aligned, thus different interventions may be most effective depending on the specific aim and athletes' individual profile of perfectionism.

Investigating the moderating role of coping style on music performance anxiety and perfectionism

Classical musicians are under constant pressure to perform at near perfect levels, and are highly vulnerable to the negative effects of music performance anxiety. This study aimed to examine the mechanisms by which two types of perfectionism (personal standards and evaluative concerns) relate to music performance anxiety, and to explore the moderating roles of active and avoidant coping on the relationship between these perfectionism types and music performance anxiety. A sample of 118 classical performing musicians (35 males, 82 females, 1 other; Mage = 42.00, SD = 14.68) were recruited to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire assessing music performance anxiety, coping and perfectionism. Results indicated that the two dimensions of perfectionism were positively associated with music performance anxiety. Personal standards perfectionism was associated with active coping, and evaluative concerns perfectionism with avoidant coping. Active coping moderated the relationship between personal standards perfectionism and performance anxiety, but only at high and medium levels. Contrary to the prediction, avoidant coping did not moderate the relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism and performance anxiety. These findings highlight key relationships between music performance anxiety and the interaction of personal standards perfectionism and active coping.

Perfectionism-related variations in error processing in a task with increased response selection complexity.

Perfectionists strive for a flawless performance because they are intrinsically motivated to set and achieve high goals (personal standards perfectionism; PSP) and/or because they are afraid to be negatively evaluated by others (evaluative concern perfectionism; ECP). We investigated the differential relationships of these perfectionism dimensions with performance, post-response adaptation, error processing (reflected by two components of the event-related potential: error/correct negativity - Ne/c; error/correct positivity - Pe/c) and error detection. In contrast to previous studies, we employed a task with increased response selection complexity providing more room for perfectionistic dispositions to manifest themselves. Although ECP was related to indicators of increased preoccupation with errors, high-EC perfectionists made more errors than low-EC perfectionists. This observation may be explained by insufficient early error processing as indicated by a reduced Ne/c effect and a lack of post-response adaptation. PSP had a moderating effect on the relationship between ECP and early error processing. Our results provide evidence that pure-EC perfectionists may spend many of their cognitive resources on error-related contents and worrying, leaving less capacity for cognitive control and thus producing a structural lack of error processing.

Are Perfectionistic Standards Associated with Burnout? Multidimensional Perfectionism and Compassion Experiences Among Professional MFTs.

The current study addressed the role that perfectionism plays among professionals in this field of marriage and family therapy (MFT). Specifically, this study provides information about PS (personal standards) perfectionism and EC (evaluative concerns) and their relationship with both compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue. The sample included 247 marriage and family therapists who answered demographic questions along with completing the professional quality of life scale (ProQOL; as reported by Stamm, B. H. (2009). Professional Quality of Life: Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue Version 5 (ProQOL). Retrieved from http://www.proqol.org/ProQol_Test.html; Stamm in The concise ProQOL manual, ProQOL.org, 2010;) and the multidimensional perfectionism scale (MPS; Hewitt and Flett, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 60:456–470, 1991). Results indicated three significant findings: (1) higher levels of both self-oriented and socially oriented perfectionism are correlated with higher levels of both burnout and secondary traumatic stress; (2) as years of work as an MFT increase, level of burnout decreases; and (3) women demonstrated statistically significantly higher scores in PS perfectionism than men. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed.

A not so perfect plan: An examination of the differential influence of multidimensional perfectionism on missed and gained events during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals missed out on important life events, but it was also a chance for some to engage with new interests or values. This research examined how individuals higher in perfectionism experienced missed and gained events during the pandemic, and how their perceptions of these events influenced their mental health. University students (N = 350) were surveyed in September 2020, assessing perfectionism, depression, missed/gained events, and need satisfaction related to these events, and then followed up in December. A combined missed and gained event score was created to better understand overall need satisfaction from these changes. Individuals higher in self-critical perfectionism were more likely to experience need dissatisfaction overall and this partially explained why these individuals experienced more depressive symptoms over time during the pandemic. Conversely, those higher in personal standards perfectionism experienced more need satisfaction overall and this was related to reduced depressive symptoms. Results suggest that individuals higher in self-critical perfectionism were less flexible when things did not go according to their plan. This may be one reason these individuals had a more difficult time coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The differential associations between self-critical perfectionism, personal standards perfectionism, and facets of restrictive eating

The transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral model of eating disorders defines clinical perfectionism as unidimensional, despite a large body of literature demonstrating that perfectionism is multidimensional. Studies examining the associations between perfectionism dimensions and eating disorders have been mixed. The present study examined self-critical perfectionism (SCP) and personal standards perfectionism (PSP) in relation to two facets of restrictive eating to help clarify these relationships. Participants were 207 female undergraduates (Mage = 19.15, SD = 1.27). SCP and PSP were assessed as latent variables. The Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory was used to assess cognitive restraint (attempts to restrict eating) and behavioral restriction (act of restrictive eating). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure of SCP and PSP. Based on a structural model, SCP, the more maladaptive dimension of perfectionism, was uniquely related to behavioral restriction. In contrast, PSP, the less maladaptive dimension of perfectionism, was uniquely related to cognitive restraint. Based on these findings, there are differential associations between perfectionism dimensions and facets of restrictive eating. Researchers are encouraged to examine perfectionism as multidimensional to best understand these complex relationships.

Perfectionistic tipping points: Re-probing interactive effects of perfectionism.

Researchers have recently turned their attention to examining interactive effects of dimensions of perfectionism in sport and exercise. This is typified by research testing the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism (Gaudreau & Thompson, 2010) and the use of simple slopes analysis to probe statistically significant interactions. The aim of this study is to illustrate a different approach to probe statistically significant interactions, the Johnson-Neyman (J-N) technique, and how it can identify the specific level of evaluative concerns perfectionism at which the effect of personal standards perfectionism changes (termed the perfectionistic tipping point). To meet this aim, secondary analysis was undertaken of three samples that previously provided evidence of interactions between dimensions of perfectionism in predicting sport devaluation, dedication, enthusiasm, and expressive suppression. Using the J-N technique, perfectionistic tipping points were identified whereby the conditional effect of PSP became statistically significant for each outcome at low-to-moderate levels of ECP. In each case, the level of ECP was outside of the levels tested in the 2 × 2 model making it useful complementary information. Based on the findings, it is recommended that researchers report perfectionistic tipping points when probing significant interactions in the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism and when examining interactive effects of perfectionism, generally.

Trait Perfectionism and Dance Goals Among Young Female Dancers: An Application of the 2 × 2 Model of Perfectionism.

This study provided the first test of the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism with respect to dancers' goals for dancing in competitive dance. Four hundred twenty-five young female North American competitive dancers (M = 11.33years; SD = 2.14) completed questionnaires assessing multidimensional perfectionism and goals for participation in dance. The latent moderated structural equations approach along with procedures outlined by Gaudreau indicated partial support for the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism. Pure Evaluative Concerns Perfectionism was associated with fewer intrinsic goals for dance and greater extrinsic goals for dance relative to nonperfectionism. Pure Personal Standards Perfectionism was related to less endorsement of extrinsic goals relative to nonperfectionism. Findings were complex with respect to mixed perfectionism, with this form of perfectionism being related to greater endorsement of both intrinsic and extrinsic goals for dance. Results provide partial support for the 2 × 2 model in youth dance.

The role of goal-related autonomy: A self-determination theory analysis of perfectionism, poor goal progress, and depressive symptoms.

Adopting a self-determination theory perspective, this 3-wave longitudinal study explores the role of perfectionism in goal pursuit and the experience of depressive symptoms. The findings highlight the role of goal-related autonomy in mediating the opposite effects of self-critical and personal standards perfectionism on goal progress and depressive symptoms over the course of an academic year. The results suggest a way of understanding the pathway to depressive symptoms and poor goal progress in perfectionists. They point to a number of implications for clinical practice when working with self-critical perfectionists. Specifically, they indicate that interventions aimed at promoting autonomous motivation, may not only bolster goal progress but also act as a protective factor against depressive symptoms. Together, the results indicate that autonomous motivation is central to goal progress and suggest that low goal-related autonomy can be linked to negative outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-critical perfectionism and lower daily perceived control predict depressive and anxious symptoms over four years.

This study of 152 community adults examined whether perfectionism interacts with daily perceived control to predict depressive and anxious symptoms over 4 years. Participants completed measures of higher-order perfectionism dimensions [self-critical (SC), personal standards (PS)] and neuroticism at time 1, daily diaries for 14 consecutive days to assess perceived control over most bothersome events at time 2 three years later, and measures of depressive and anxious symptoms at time 1, time 2, and time 3 four years after baseline. Hierarchical regression analyses of moderator effects demonstrated that individuals with higher SC perfectionism at time 1 and lower perceived control across daily stressors at time 2 had higher levels of depressive symptoms at time 3 than others, adjusting for the effects of time 1 and time 2 depressive and anxious symptoms. Higher SC perfectionism also interacted with lower perceived control to predict time 3 anxious symptoms. PS perfectionism and neuroticism did not interact with perceived control to predict time 3 depressive or anxious symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of addressing cognitive appraisals of one's control over handling daily stressors for the prevention and treatment of depressive and anxious symptoms in individuals with higher SC perfectionism. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Moral Disengagement: Mediator Between Moral Perfectionism and Machiavellian Behavior Among Undergraduates?

To better understand Machiavellian behavior among undergraduate students, the current study examines moral disengagement as a mediator in the relationship between Machiavellian behavior and two dimensions of moral perfectionism (concern over moral mistakes perfectionism and personal moral standards perfectionism). Participants were 210 undergraduate students (64% female) from three universities in Tehran, Iran, aged between 18 and 27 years old. Structural equation modeling revealed that Machiavellian behavior was negatively associated with personal moral standards perfectionism and positively associated with moral disengagement. The results of the structural model showed a non-significant relationship between concern over moral mistakes perfectionism and Machiavellian behavior. However, multi-model analysis provided evidence that moral disengagement partially mediated the relationship between personal moral standards perfectionism and Machiavellian behavior. The findings also showed that there was a relationship between concern over moral mistakes perfectionism and Machiavellian behavior through moral disengagement. The results suggest that while moral perfectionism is often accompanied with moral disengagement, Machiavellian behavior may be an explanation for individuals with these traits.

Parent autonomy support as moderator: Testing the expanded perfectionism social disconnection model

Perfectionism is a bidimensional trait that has been linked to anxiety. While the positive relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism (ECP)11ECP = Evaluative Concerns Perfectionism. and anxiety has consistently been demonstrated in the literature, a debate still exists on whether personal standards perfectionism (PSP)22PSP = Personal Standards Perfectionism. is positively or negatively related to clinical constructs. This inconsistency in evidence highlights a need to test for factors that moderate this relationship. Using the expanded perfectionism social disconnection model (PSDM)33PSDM = Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model. as framework, parent autonomy support was examined as a moderator to the relationship between PSP and anxiety. Using longitudinal data from a sample of Filipino university students (N = 312), it was found that parent autonomy support interacted with PSP to predict anxiety even after controlling for the effects of sex, age, depression, stress, ECP, and anxiety at baseline. Longitudinal evidence for the perfectionism stress mediation model was found for ECP, but the mediating effect of stress between ECP and anxiety only became significant when the effects of the covariates were not accounted for. Given the prevalence of mental health problems among the youth, implications of the findings are discussed.

How to Cope with Perfectionism? Perfectionism as a Risk Factor for Suicidality and the Role of Cognitive Coping in Adolescents

Suicide among adolescents is a significant health concern. Gaining more knowledge about markers that contribute to or protect against suicide is crucial. Perfectionism is found to be a personality trait that is strongly predictive for suicidality; it can be divided into personal standards perfectionism (PS) and concerns about mistakes and doubts perfectionism (CMD). This study investigated the association between PS, CMD, and suicidality in a sample of 273 Dutch secondary school students aged between 12 and 15 years old (M = 13.54, SD = 0.58, 55.8% males). We also examined whether adaptive, or maladaptive cognitive coping strategies influenced these associations. We hypothesized that students high in PS or CMD would experience an increased suicidality. Moreover, we expected that adaptive coping strategies would act as buffer between the association of perfectionism and suicidality, and that maladaptive coping strategies would strengthen this association. For analyses, we used a regression model with latent variables. The results showed that higher scores in perfectionism (PS and CMD) were related to an increase in suicidality. High levels of maladaptive coping in combination with high levels of perfectionism were associated with an increase in suicidality. Although adaptive coping was related to a decrease in suicidality, adaptive coping in interaction with PS and with CMD was not a predictor of suicidality. The results are relevant for prevention, and intervention programs. This paper makes recommendations for clinical practice and further research in order to prevent suicidality in adolescents.

Academic Hardiness as a Moderator between Evaluative Concerns Perfectionism and Academic Procrastination in Students

Academic procrastination is a common phenomenon in students that can have a negative impact on effective learning, academic achievement, self-esteem, and quality of life. This study examined the associations among the two dimensions of perfectionism (personal standards perfectionism and evaluative concerns perfectionism), academic hardiness, and academic procrastination, as well as the moderating role of academic hardiness in the relationship between the two dimensions of perfectionism and academic procrastination. Participants of this study included 410 high school students in grades 9 to 12 from six schools in Tehran, Iran who completed the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised, the Academic Hardiness Scale, and the Procrastination Assessment Scale. The results indicated that personal standards perfectionism and academic hardiness had negative relationships with academic procrastination, whereas evaluative concerns perfectionism had a positive relationship with academic procrastination. Interaction-moderation analysis demonstrated that academic hardiness only played a buffering role in the relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism and academic procrastination. The results of this study elucidate the experience of academic procrastination in students and highlight the role of academic hardiness and personal standards perfectionism. Implications for educators and psychologists are discussed.

0191 Social Jetlag and Sleep Habits on Weekends Moderate the Relationship Between Personal Standards Perfectionism and Academic Performance in Young Athletes

Abstract Introduction Research suggests that young athletes may present different levels of perfectionism, which affect sport and academic performances. Sleep is also a variable that can affects grades. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personal standards (PS) perfectionism, sleep and school performance in young athletes. Methods 27 young athletes (13-16y) wore an actigraph for a week and completed an adapted version of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. Sleep habits during weekdays (WD) and weekends (WE), and social jetlag (SJ) were extracted from the actigraphy. Mean performance of the two main school subjects were taken from the final report at the end of the school year (Mgrades). A linear regression was done between PS and Mgrades. Then, we used Hayes’ PROCESS Macro V3.4 to examine the role of sleep as a moderator of the relation between PS and Mgrades. Results PS significantly predicts Mgrades (β=.59, p=.001; Ra2=.34, p=.001). The addition of the interactions terms, first between SJ and PS, then, between WE bedtimes and PS, and finally, between WE waketimes and PS, explained a significant increase in variance in Mgrades (ΔR2=.14, F(1,23)=31.81, p<.001; ΔR2=.17, F(1,23)=25.99, p<.001; ΔR2=.10, F(1,23)=12.43, p=.002, respectively). Therefore, when SJ is higher than 39min, WE bedtimes are after 10:21PM and WE waketimes are after 7:12AM, PS and Mgrades are significantly related. Conclusion These results show that when higher SJ and later WE bedtimes and waketimes are present, low PS are associated with low grades and high PS are associated with high grades. In contrast, when a small SJ, earlier WE bedtimes and waketimes are present, PS are not associated with grades. These results suggest that young athletes may be more vulnerable to the effect of sleep disturbances on grades depending on various factors such as perfectionism. Support N/A

Intercollegiate perfectionistic athletes’ perspectives on success and failure in sport

This study explored perfectionistic athletes’ perspectives on and experiences of success and failure in sport through a three-phase mixed methods design. In Phase 1, 122 intercollegiate varsity athletes responded to the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale 2. Ten athletes were then purposively sampled who, based on the percentile rank of their subscales scores, endorsed pure personal standards perfectionism (n = 3) or mixed perfectionism (n = 7). In Phases 2 and 3, these ten athletes took part in semi-structured interviews that explored meaningful experiences of success and failure from their past and a diary protocol that chronicled their actual experiences of success and failure over a season. Thematic analysis of the data indicated that the perfectionists’ perspectives on success and failure revolved around the pursuit of forward momentum in sport. This theme was enabled by the sport context and was reflected in active resistance to contentment, a prioritization of perpetual improvement, and a continual re-direction of attention to future challenges. Subthemes indicated how forward momentum was fueled and challenged by concerns over athletic legitimacy and fostered through hard work. The pure personal standard perfectionists and the mixed perfectionists showed similarities and differences within each subtheme as well as in their reactions to stalled momentum. The specific patterns of findings suggested that the mixed perfectionists were relatively more likely to respond to failure in a manner reflective of narrative wreckage and perfectionistic reactivity. The practical implications of these findings are discussed. Lay summary: Through interviews and season-long diaries, this study explored ten perfectionistic athletes’ perspectives on success and failure. Findings revolved around desires to continually improve, demonstrate legitimacy, and work hard. The degree to which these perspectives were associated with negative responses to failure generally depended on the specific form of perfectionism endorsed. Practical implications It is important to recognize the nature of athletes’ perfectionistic tendencies as pure personal standard perfectionists and mixed perfectionists reported meaningful similarities and differences in how they conceptualize, experience, and respond to success and failure in sport. Mixed perfectionistic athletes appeared to endorse a set of irrational beliefs that contributed to their vulnerability to distress following failure. Cognitive-behavioral therapy could be used to address these irrational beliefs. Following the success, coaches and practitioners should be attentive to developments in perfectionistic athletes’ beliefs and foster their ability to adaptively appraise and cope with emergent demands. Practitioners adopting a narrative approach to therapy and working with intercollegiate athletes who endorse pure personal standards perfectionism or mixed perfectionism could use the present findings to help the athletes make meaning about their own experiences of success and failure.