Perfectionism erodes social self-esteem and generates depressive symptoms: Studying mother-daughter dyads using a daily diary design with longitudinal follow-up

Abstract

Research at York St John (RaY) is an institutional repository. It supports the principles of open access by making the research outputs of the University available in digital form.

The Big Three Perfectionism Scale–Short Form (BTPS-SF): Development of a Brief Self-Report Measure of Multidimensional Perfectionism

“…Perfectionism is positively associated with anxiety, suicide ideation, and the prior number of suicide attempts (e.g., Smith, Sherry, Chen, et al, 2017; Smith, Vidovic, Sherry, Stewart, & Saklofske, 2018). Perfectionism is also associated with depression, including evidence that perfectionism confers risk of depression (e.g., Hewitt & Flett, 1991a; Smith, Sherry, Mushquash, et al, 2017). An association between eating disorders and higher perfectionism has also been found (e.g., Bardone-Cone et al, 2007; Smith, Sherry, Gautreau, et al, 2017).…”

Maladaptive Perfectionism and Internet Addiction among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression and Gender

“…Being raised in such contexts, Chinese college students might pursue unachievable goals derived from social expectations. If they failed to achieve these goals, it may be difficult for them to feel satisfied and realize self-worth, which further places them at risk of depressive symptoms [ 67 , 68 ]. Moreover, almost every Chinese university campus is currently covered by the Internet.…”

Why does socially prescribed perfectionism place people at risk for depression? A five-month, two-wave longitudinal study of the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model

“…Chang & Sanna, 2001). Likewise, mediation models examining relations between socially prescribed perfectionism and depression commonly include mediating variables that are likely multi-factorial (e.g., social self-esteem; Smith, Sherry, Mushquash et al, 2017). Moreover, some studies restrict their focus to socially prescribed perfectionism and depression (e.g., Dean, Range, & Goggin, 1996).…”

“…Lastly, measurement occasions in longitudinal studies have made drawing conclusions challenging. For instance, some studies limit follow-up assessments to days or weeks (e.g., Smith, Sherry, Mushquash et al, 2017)-potentially too short a duration for a rigorous test of the socially prescribed perfectionism-depressive symptom link. Other studies allow several years to elapse between measurement occasions (e.g., Dunkley, Sanislow, Grilo, & McGlashan, 2006) -potentially too long a duration, given that major life events can lead to improvements or deteriorations in depressive symptoms.…”

“…As such, researchers should test whether our model replicates when predictors, mediators, and outcome variables are assessed at separate time points (Cole & Maxwell, 2003). We also tested a specific sequence of events (see Figure 1) based on theory (Hewitt et al, 2006;Sherry et al, 2016) and research (e.g., Sherry, Law, Hewitt, Flett, & Besser, 2008;Smith, Sherry, Mushquash et al 2017). However, different sequences are possible.…”