Assessing perfectionism in Russia: Classifying perfectionists with the Short Almost Perfect Scale

Associations between perfectionism and symptoms of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in young people: a meta-analysis

Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic process contributing to the onset and maintenance of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the association between perfectionism, and symptoms of anxiety, OCD and depression among young people aged 6-24 years. A systematic literature search retrieved a total of 4,927 articles, with 121 studies included (Mpooled age = ~17.70 years). Perfectionistic concerns demonstrated significant moderate pooled correlations with symptoms of anxiety (r = .37-.41), OCD (r = .42), and depression (r = .40). Perfectionistic strivings demonstrated significant, small correlations with symptoms of anxiety (r = .05) and OCD (r = .19). The findings highlight the substantial link between perfectionistic concerns and psychopathology in young people, and to a smaller extent perfectionistic strivings, anxiety, and OCD. The results indicate the importance of further research on early intervention for perfectionism to improve youth mental health.

The Almost Perfect Scale in medical students: factor analysis, measurement invariance, and profile analysis

Incoming medical students at a private midwestern medical school are routinely surveyed at the time of matriculation on wellness measures, one of which is the Almost Perfect Scale - Revised (APS-R). An 8-item subset of this 23-item scale has been suggested as an alternative perfectionism measure, called the Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS). To confirm the within-network and between-network construct validity of both scales in our population, responses in 592 matriculating medical students from the years 2020-2022 were analyzed using both versions of this scale. Confirmatory factor analysis found the items significantly measured the construct of perfectionism in the SAPS scale, but not the APS-R. The APS-R was not analyzed further. SAPS was analyzed for measurement invariance (MI) and was equivocal for gender at the scalar level; differential item functioning indicated that any MI effect was small. Latent profile analysis was inconclusive in our sample, possibly because our students' scores on the latent variable "standards" were consistently higher than previously reported. We recommend that the SAPS be used rather than the APS in medical students, that gender differences be analyzed with caution, and that profiles of types of perfectionists not be utilized in this population without further investigation. Finally, we suggest that the discrepancy scale alone may be a better indicator of perfectionism in this population of high achievers.

Perfectionism and Emotional Intelligence: A Person-Centered Approach

This study examined the relationship between perfectionistic concerns (PC) and perfectionistic strivings (PS) with the subcomponents of emotional intelligence (EI) through a latent class person-centered approach. A sample of 1582 Ecuadorian adolescents (619 females) aged from 12 to 18 was employed. The trait meta-mood scale-24 (TMMS-24) and the child and adolescent perfectionism scale (CAPS) were used, respectively, for assessing three subcomponents of EI (i.e., emotional attention, emotional clarity, and mood repair) and two perfectionist dimensions (PC and PS). A three-class solution (High perfectionism, moderate perfectionism, and nonperfectionism) was identified by using latent class analysis. High perfectionism significantly scored higher on emotional attention in comparison with the moderate and nonperfectionism classes, with small and moderate effect sizes. Overall, results suggest that people with high perfectionism might be at greater risk of developing maladaptive emotional self-regulation strategies, such as rumination, because of their tendency to excessively attend their negative mood states.

Maladaptive Perfectionism, Impostor Phenomenon, and Suicidal Ideation Among Medical Students

OBJECTIVE

Suicide is a leading cause of death for young adults, and medical students experience elevated rates of suicide and suicidal ideation. The present study uses mediation analysis to explore relationships between suicidal ideation and two dysfunctional mindsets common among medical students: maladaptive perfectionism, high standards accompanied by excessive self-criticism, and impostor phenomenon, pervasive feelings of inadequacy despite evidence of competence and success.

METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-six medical students at a single institution completed an online survey which assessed maladaptive perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, and suicidal ideation. After calculating measures of association between all study variables, linear regression was conducted to establish the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and suicidal ideation. To evaluate whether impostor phenomenon mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and suicidal ideation as hypothesized, a series of regression models were constructed and the regression coefficients were examined. The statistical significance of the indirect effect, representing the mediated relationship, was tested using bootstrapping.

RESULTS

Significant positive associations between maladaptive perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, and suicidal ideation were observed. Impostor phenomenon score was found to mediate the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

Medical students who exhibit maladaptive perfectionism are at increased risk for feelings of impostor phenomenon, which translates into increased risk for suicide. These results suggest that an intervention targeted at reducing feelings of impostor phenomenon among maladaptive perfectionists may be effective in reducing their higher risk for suicide. However, interventions promoting individual resilience are not sufficient; systemic change is needed to address medicine's "culture of perfection."

Perfectionism, Motives, and Barriers to Exercise from a Person-Oriented Approach

Perfectionism is considered to be a significant personality factor within the sport and exercise field. However, very little is known about the reasons why individuals with different perfectionistic tendencies engage or not in physical activity. This study aims, from a person-oriented approach, to analyze if participation motives and barriers may differ among four perfectionistic profiles: Non-Perfectionists (low perfectionistic strivings, PS, and perfectionistic concerns, PC), Adaptive Perfectionists (high PS and low PC), Maladaptive Perfectionists (high PS and PC), and Moderate Perfectionists (moderate PS and PC). A sample composed of 597 (M_age = 22.08, SD = 3.33) undergraduates enrolled in a sport science degree from Ecuador participated in this study. Non-Perfectionists reported lower levels of motives, whereas Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionists reported higher scores on all participation motives. Significant and positive correlations were found between PS and both autonomous and controlled motives, whereas PC was positively correlated with controlled reasons and only significantly correlated with some autonomous reasons by the effect of PS. In terms of barriers, Maladaptive Perfectionists reported significantly higher scores on all barriers analyzed in comparison with the other three profiles, with moderate and large effect sizes. The results of the bivariate and partial correlations suggest that these inter-profile differences were explained by PC. Considering the results, it is advised to develop strategies to identify Maladaptive Perfectionists in order to increase their intrinsic reasons for practicing physical exercise, and to minimize their perceived barriers.

Perfectionism Classes and Aggression in Adolescents

Some of the components of perfectionism produce a variety of problems, such as interpersonal hypersensitivity and hostility, that may be associated with aggression behavior during adolescence. This study aims to identify classes of adolescents depending on their levels of Perfectionistic Strivings (PS) and Perfectionistic Concerns (PC) as well as to examine whether there are significant differences in the manifestations of the four components of aggression behavior (i.e., anger, hostility, physical aggression, and verbal aggression) between them. A total of 1,074 high school students from various educational centers participated in this study (M = 14.78, SD = 1.84). The Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale and the Aggression Questionnaire short form were used. The Latent Class Analysis identified three classes of adolescent perfectionism: (a) Non-Perfectionists (low PS and PC), (b) Maladaptive Perfectionists (high PS and PC), and (c) Adaptive Perfectionists (moderate PS and PC). Results revealed significant differences between classes regarding the different manifestations of aggression. Maladaptive Perfectionists and Adaptive Perfectionists reported, respectively, the highest and lowest levels of aggression behavior. This study assists in educational programs to prevent conflicts related to school violence through emotional adjustment.

Perfectionism Profiles and Motivation to Exercise Based on Self-Determination Theory

This study complements extant variable-centered research that focus on the relationship between perfectionism and the autonomous and controlled motivation to exercise. A person-centered approach is used for identifying perfectionism profiles as well as analyzing inter-profile differences in terms of the six regulatory styles located on the autonomy-control continuum. A sample of 597 (M_age = 22.08, SD = 3.33) Ecuadorian undergraduates enrolled in a sport science degree program was employed. Latent Profile Analysis based on two higher-order perfectionism dimensions, Perfectionistic Strivings (PS) and Perfectionistic Concerns (PC), supported a four-class solution: Non-Perfectionists (low PS and PC), Adaptive Perfectionists (high PS and low PC), Maladaptive Perfectionists (high PS and PC), and Moderate Perfectionists (moderate PS and PC). Adaptive Perfectionists obtained the highest means on Intrinsic, Integrated, and Identified regulations. However, these differences where only significant when compared with Moderate Perfectionists, and only in the case of Integrated regulation, in comparison with Non-Perfectionists. In contrast, Maladaptive Perfectionists obtained significantly higher scores on Introjected and External regulations as well as on Amotivation than the other three classes. Results are discussed in light of Self-Determination Theory.

Measurement and Implications of Perfectionism in South Korea and the United States

We evaluated the Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS; Rice et al., 2014) in South Korean ( N = 306) and United States ( N = 259) samples. Results supported partial metric invariance for the standards (perfectionistic strivings) and discrepancy (perfectionistic concerns) factors, and for depression and self-esteem. Item responses were unaffected by gender- or age-related bias. Differential item functioning analyses and tests of scalar invariance revealed noninvariance for several items that might reflect culturally relevant issues. There were no differences in SAPS factor means based on invariance tests using the alignment method. For both samples, the standards factor was positively and comparably associated with self-esteem and inversely predicted depression; the discrepancy factor yielded effects in the opposite direction. Results generally supported the use of the SAPS for United States–Korean correlational comparisons. Future work could develop and evaluate additional indicators of perfectionistic concerns for cross-national studies, and increase representation in the samples and breadth of criterion factors.

Perfectionism and Academic Performance in Italian College Students

This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Italian translation of both the Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS) and the Short Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (SMPS), and the academic implications of perfectionism on 414 Italian college students aged between 18 and 58 years. Results revealed some limitations with the SAPS factor structure that, once addressed, yielded scores with good internal consistency and convergent validity. The SMPS had adequate psychometric properties. Higher perfectionistic strivings scores were associated with better academic performance and with higher rates of studying. This study provides support for the usefulness of both the SAPS and the SMPS in understanding relationships between different perfectionism dimensions and academic outcomes for Italian students.