The advantages of partialling perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns: Critical issues and recommendations

Abstract

According to the two-factor theory of perfectionism (Stoeber & Otto, 2006), perfectionism comprises two superordinate dimensions-perfectionistic strivings (PS) and perfectionistic concerns (PC)-that show different, and often opposite, relations with psychological adjustment and maladjustment, particularly when their overlap is partialled out. Recently, Hill (2014) raised concerns about the interpretation of the relations that PS show after partialling. The present article aims to alleviate these concerns. First, we address the concern that partialling changes the conceptual meaning of PS. Second, we explain how the relations of residual PS (i.e., PS with PC partialled out) differ from those of PS, and how to interpret these differences. In this, we also discuss suppressor effects and how mutual suppression affects the relations of both PS and PC with outcomes. Furthermore, we provide recommendations of how to report and interpret findings of analyses partialling out the effects of PS and PC. We conclude that, if properly understood and reported, there is nothing to be concerned about when partialling PS and PC. On the contrary, partialling is essential if we want to understand the shared, unique, combined, and interactive relations of the different dimensions of perfectionism.

Perfectionism predicts injury in junior athletes: Preliminary evidence from a prospective study

“…More importantly, once the significant overlap with perfectionistic concerns was statistically controlled (r = .60), perfectionistic strivings then showed a negative near-zero relationship with injury. This is in contrast to the findings for perfectionistic concerns, as the positive relationship with injury held for perfectionistic concerns and residual perfectionistic concerns (i.e., when the overlap with perfectionistic strivings was controlled; Stoeber & Gaudreau, 2017). In addition, the present findings corroborate previous PERFECTIONISM AND INJURY 12 research that finds that perfectionistic strivings are not always associated with maladaptive outcomes (and are often associated with positive outcomes; see Gotwals et al, 2012;Stoeber, 2011).…”

“…The latter is particularly evident when the overlap between perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns is controlled for and perfectionistic strivings' unique relationships are examined (Gotwals, Stoeber, Dunn, & Stoll, 2012;Stoeber, 2011). Controlling for the overlap between the two dimensions is also important for perfectionistic concerns because the associations with negative processes and outcomes emerge more clearly when the overlap with perfectionistic strivings is controlled (Stoeber & Gaudreau, 2017).…”

“…Likewise, Madigan et al's (2017) study found only perfectionistic concerns to predict training distress, not perfectionistic strivings. Still, our analyses included perfectionistic strivings to give a comprehensive account of perfectionism and examine the unique effects of perfectionistic concerns (Stoeber & Gaudreau, 2017).…”

“…Next, we computed partial correlations to control for the overlap between perfectionistic strivings and concerns and examine the two dimensions' unique relationships with injury (cf. Stoeber & Gaudreau, 2017).…”

The Role of Trait and State Perfectionism in Psychological Detachment From Daily Job Demands

“…Thereby, the diverse facets of perfectionism can be summarized by two dimensions (see Stoeber & Gaudreau, 2017, for a recent review).…”