Poster #51 - Are Perfectionistic Strivings Adaptive? Links with Preadolescents Interpersonal Functioning and Mental Health Outcomes

• In Event: 2-163 - Poster Session 08
  In Poster Session: PS 08 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

It is well-established that perfectionism is both a maintenance and risk factor for numerous social and mental health problems in children and adults (e.g., Affrunti & Woodruff-Borden, 2014; Barnett & Sharp, 2016; Sherry, Mackinnon, & Gautreau, 2016). Perfectionism has typically been divided into two dimensions: perfectionistic concerns (e.g., discrepancy between real and ideal self, belief that others expect them to be perfect, anxiety over making errors) and perfectionistic strivings (e.g., strive for excellence, setting of very high standards, goal focused; Sherry et al., 2016). Perfectionistic concerns have been reliably associated with increases in interpersonal problems and psychological distress (e.g., Hewitt, Flett, Sherry, & Caelian, 2006; Lasota & Kearney, 2017; McCreary, Joiner, Schmidt, & Ialongo, 2004), however, whether perfectionistic strivings exert a positive or negative effect on individuals’ interpersonal functioning and mental health remains a controversial issue (see Damian, Negru-Subtirica, Stoeber, & Băban, 2017; Hill, 2014, 2017; Stoeber & Gaudreau, 2017; Stoeber, Noland et al., 2017). Additionally, much of the perfectionism research has been conducted with adults, however, research has shown that perfectionistic tendencies are evident in young children and can increase with age (Hong et al., 2017). Thus, it is important to study the transdiagnostic impact of the different types of perfectionism before the adolescent peak onset period for many of the most common psychological disorders (Kessler et al., 2005). The Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM; Hewitt, Flett, Sherry, & Caelian, 2006) posits that perfectionism leads to mental health problems via interpersonal problems and social isolation. In line with this theoretical framework, the present study aimed to determine the associations between perfectionistic concerns, perfectionistic strivings, and a range of interpersonal and mental health outcomes in preadolescents. To date, the PSDM has only been tested in relation to perfectionistic concerns, and there is limited research testing its predictions regarding anxiety and disordered eating. Thus, a second aim of the research was to test the predictions of the PSDM by determining whether rejection sensitivity and social isolation, in that sequence, mediated the associations between both types of perfectionism and mental health outcomes (as depicted in Figure 1). Five hundred and ten preadolescents aged 10 to 12 years (Mage=11.2; male = 50.7%), completed online surveys and the Cyberball ostracism task (Williams, Cheung, & Choi, 2000). Correlational analysis revealed that both forms of perfectionism were associated with greater interpersonal difficulty, as well as higher levels of anxiety, depression and eating disorder symptoms. Serial mediation analyses found general support for the theoretical predictions of the PSDM for perfectionistic concerns, and extending upon previous research, perfectionistic strivings. It was concluded that among preadolescents, both perfectionistic concerns and strivings pose a risk to young people’s social relationships with their peers and their psychological health in terms of anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. Therefore, treatment for young perfectionists experiencing interpersonal and psychological difficulties should target both forms of perfectionism and specifically explore the quality of their social relationships and how their perfectionistic thinking and behavior may be negatively influencing them.

Authors

• Natasha Renee Magson, Macquarie University
  Presenting Author

• Ella L. Oar, Macquarie University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jasmine Fardouly, Macquarie University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Carly J Johnco, Macquarie University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ron M Rapee, Macquarie University
  Non-Presenting Author