Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy

Program

Psychology

Supervisor

Saklofske, Donald

Abstract

This dissertation investigated the interpersonal mechanisms through which various aspects of perfectionism confer risk for psychological outcomes. Three studies were conducted based on the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (Hewitt, Flett, & Mikail, 2017), which proposes that individuals with higher levels of perfectionism may experience significant social disconnection, which then lead to a variety of maladaptive outcomes. Study 1 examined the longitudinal impacts of trait perfectionism and sense of relatedness on the variance in change in psychological outcomes. Findings showed that negative perceptions of relatedness partially mediated the link between socially prescribed perfectionism and psychological distress three months later; however, this relationship was no longer significant when controlled for baseline symptoms. Studies 2 and 3 examined the mediating role of social disconnection in the relationship between perfectionism and psychological outcomes in a sample of general undergraduate students, as well as students in medical and law programs. Findings showed that feelings of loneliness mediated the relationship between nondisclosure of imperfection and outcomes of depression and psychological distress in undergraduate, law, and medical students. Results also showed that loneliness mediated the links between socially prescribed perfectionism and psychological distress in undergraduate and law students, but not in medical students. Tests of group differences showed that medical students reported lower levels of perfectionism compared to both law and undergraduate students. Understanding the potential impacts of perfectionism and the interpersonal mechanisms involved that make individuals vulnerable to maladaptive outcomes will assist academic programs in developing effective strategies to reduce sources of psychological distress, build students’ resilience, and improve the ways in which students can feel socially supported and connected with others.

Summary for Lay Audience

Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by a tendency to strive for flawlessness, set unrealistically high standards for performance, and have overly critical evaluations of one’s behaviour. This dissertation is comprised of three studies that investigated the interpersonal mechanisms through which various aspects of perfectionism confer risk for psychological outcomes. It has been proposed that individuals with higher levels of perfectionism may experience significant social disconnection, which then leads to a variety of maladaptive outcomes. Findings from Study 1 showed that the perception or belief that others demand perfection is associated with a lower sense of relatedness, which in turn lead to higher levels of psychological distress three months later (Time 2); however, this relationship did not remain when symptoms of psychological distress measured at Time 1 were accounted for. Studies 2 and 3 examined the role of social disconnection in the relationship between perfectionism and psychological outcomes in a sample of general undergraduate students, as well as students in medical and law programs. Findings showed that the tendency to avoid verbal admissions of perceived imperfections is associated with feelings of loneliness, which in turn are associated with depression and psychological distress in undergraduate, law, and medical students. Results also showed that loneliness plays an important role in the relationship between psychological distress and the perception or belief that others demand perfection in undergraduate and law students, but not in medical students. In addition, medical students were found to report lower levels of perfectionism compared to both law and undergraduate students. Understanding the potential impacts of perfectionism and the interpersonal mechanisms involved that make individuals vulnerable to maladaptive outcomes will assist academic programs in developing effective strategies to reduce sources of psychological distress, build students’ resilience, and improve the ways in which students can feel socially supported and connected with others.

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