The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Psychopathology: A Meta‐Analysis

Abstract

Findings support the notion of perfectionism as a transdiagnostic factor by demonstrating that both dimensions are associated with various forms of psychopathology.

Perfectionism, Burnout, and Depression in Youth Soccer Players: A Longitudinal Study

“…To our knowledge, no other study has examined the relationship between SOP and depression in youth athletes. However, recent meta-analytical evidence has found SOP to have a small positive correlation with depression that disappeared when controlling for PC or baseline depression in clinical and non-clinical samples (Limburg et al, 2016;Smith et al, 2016). Our findings are consistent with this research.…”

“…However, findings are broadly similar with research outside of sport with dimensions of perfectionism similar to PC positively related to depression in athletes (e.g., Nixdorf et al, 2016). Drawing on the considerable number of studies examining the relationship between perfectionism and depression outside of sport, both PS and PC tend to be positively related to depression, although the size of the relationship is larger and more consistent for PC than PS (see Limburg, Watson, Hagger, & Egan, 2016). Notably, Smith et al (2016) recently conducted a meta-analysis of 10 longitudinal studies and found that both PC and PS displayed a small positive relationship with depression.…”

Validation of the clinical perfectionism questionnaire in an eating disorder sample: A bifactor approach

“…overevaluation of striving factor was correlated with the evaluative concerns factor of the FMPS (Egan et al, 2016), and that overevaluation of striving was related to eating disorder symptoms (Limburg et al, 2017), because they did not partial out the common clinical perfectionism factor. After the general clinical perfectionism factor is accounted for, remaining variance in these items may reflect more adaptive high standards and deferment of gratification (i.e., missing out on things).…”

“…The perfectionistic strivings factor contains items relating to setting high personal standards and goals for achievement, while the perfectionistic concerns factor contains items relating to having a concern over making mistakes and believing that others expect perfection from oneself. Narrative (Bardone-Cone et al, 2007;Egan et al, 2011) and meta-analytic (Limburg et al, 2017) reviews have not found an impact of eating disorder subtype on levels of perfectionism, with no significant differences between individuals with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in global levels of perfectionism or on perfectionism subscales, such as perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. Narrative (Bardone-Cone et al, 2007;Egan et al, 2011) and meta-analytic (Limburg et al, 2017) reviews have not found an impact of eating disorder subtype on levels of perfectionism, with no significant differences between individuals with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in global levels of perfectionism or on perfectionism subscales, such as perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns.…”

“…The first aim was to test whether the CPQ comprises a bifactor structure, which includes the general factor of clinical perfectionism and two group factors. It was further hypothesized that the CPQ group factors would uniquely predict eating disorder symptoms independent from the general clinical perfectionism factor, based on previous research indicating the relationship between perfectionism subscales and eating disorder pathology (see Egan et al, 2011;Limburg et al, 2017, for review). The second aim was to investigate the contribution that group and general factors make to the prediction of the core eating disorder symptoms of dietary restraint, over-evaluation of weight and shape, and eating concerns (Fairburn et al, 2003a).…”