Specific perfectionism components predicting daily stress, coping, and negative affect six months and three years later

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.

Modeling pathways to non‐suicidal self‐injury: The roles of perfectionism, negative affect, rumination, and attention control

Objective

Using the Emotional Cascade Model as a theoretical framework, this study tested whether the relationship between perfectionism and non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) operates through rumination and negative affect. Additionally, we tested whether the associations between perfectionism and both rumination and negative affect are moderated by attention control.

Methods

Using a correlational cross‐sectional design, adults aged 18–25 with (N = 197) and without (N = 271) a history of NSSI completed measures of perfectionism, rumination, negative affect, attention control, and NSSI.

Results

Perfectionism was directly associated with increased odds of NSSI, and indirectly associated with odds of NSSI through rumination and negative affect. The relationship between perfectionism and rumination was moderated by attention focusing, such that the relationship was stronger for individuals who were higher in attention focusing.

Conclusion

Integrating perfectionism and attention with existing models of NSSI may improve understanding of the factors contributing to NSSI and offers insights into future clinical directions.

Perfectionism and the Impact of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Daily Life

Abstract. Previous research indicates that socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) and self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) are associated with extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, respectively. However, little is known about the impact of daily intrinsic and extrinsic motivated goals on affect in perfectionists. This daily diary study examined the extent to which perfectionism moderates the relationship between motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) and affect (including self-conscious emotions). Participants ( N = 132) varying in levels of perfectionism completed 14 days of online surveys that included questions about pursuit of daily goals and affect. SOP did not predict the covariation of types of motivation and affect. SPP, by contrast, predicted the covariation of extrinsic motivation and guilt (and pride). Results suggest that for people high on SPP, pursuing extrinsic motivated goals is associated with higher levels of guilt and lower levels of pride. Future directions and implications are discussed.