Predicting adolescent perfectionism: The role of socio-demographic traits, personal relationships, and media

Abstract

BACKGROUND The present study investigated perfectionism from the bioecological model perspective as a multidimensional construct manifested in forms of excessively high personal standards, exaggerated worries about personal mistakes, doubt in one’s performance, oversized order and organization emphasis, and the importance of parental valuations and expectations. AIM To investigate the relation between perfectionism; the quality of family, peer, and college relationships; and media usage and content interests. METHODS The research was implemented in 2020 with 203 students (134 female, 66%) aged 18-25 years, enrolled at the University of Osijek in Croatia. The questionnaire had five parts: A) sociodemographic data; B) the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale; C) the “general life satisfaction” and “current situational life satisfaction” scale; D) family, peer, and college relationships quality scale; and E) media usage and content interests scale. All of the implemented instruments showed satisfactory reliability. A hierarchical regression analysis was implemented with the aim of establishing significant perfectionism predictors. RESULTS Age and gender were significant predictors of perfectionism. Participants with lower family relationship quality reported higher parental expectations and complaining as well as significantly higher doubts in personal performance and concern about mistakes. Similarly, a lower peer relationship quality predicted doubts in personal performance and stronger concerns about mistakes. The quality of college relationships positively predicted higher perfectionist personal standards and organization. General life satisfaction predicted higher concerns about mistakes, while current situational life satisfaction predicted higher levels of perfectionist organization. Media usage intensity had no significant effect. Adolescent interest in information-educational media predicted higher personal standards as well as concern about mistakes and organization. Higher interests in entertainment media content predicted more concern about mistakes, while interest in negative media content negatively predicted organization in adolescents. CONCLUSION Sociodemographic traits, relationships with family, peers and colleagues, as well as life satisfaction and media content interests represent significant adolescent perfectionism predictors, explaining 14%-28% of individual perfectionism dimensions.

The effect of perfectionism on relative deprivation among nursing students: The role of interpersonal sensitivity and resilience

“…This may be because nursing students with adaptive perfectionism may feel that they have the appropriate resources to meet the needs of a situation without experiencing the perception of threatening pressure (Hammond et al, 2019; Vanstone & Hicks, 2019). In addition, nursing students with adaptive perfectionism are likely to set reasonable and realistic goals and gain self‐affirmation from their pursuit of success, which is likely to lead to perceived success, rather than focusing on the difference between their high standards and unattainable beliefs (Eley et al, 2020; Lo & Abbott, 2013) or on their own ability gaps with others (Livazović & Kuzmanović, 2022). Thus, the adaptive perfectionism of nursing students is not related to relative deprivation.…”

Expanding High School Counseling in a Social Media World: Improving Student and Community Well-Being

“…Distortions of normative life experiences due to an increase in social media consumption have shown increased propensity for perfectionistic attitudes with commensurate increases in struggling with mental health (Fioravanti et al, 2020; Livazović & Kuzmanović, 2022). Studies have found that negatively comparing oneself to others on social media is associated with increased depression and decreased well-being (Feinstein et al, 2013; Rutledge et al, 2013).…”