No abstract

Perfectionistic concerns (i.e., negative reactions to failures, concerns over others' criticism and expectations, and nagging self-doubts) are a putative risk factor for depressive symptoms. This study proposes and supports the existential model of perfectionism and depressive symptoms (EMPDS), a conceptual model aimed at explaining why perfectionistic concerns confer risk for depressive symptoms. According to the EMPDS, perfectionistic concerns confer risk for depressive symptoms both through catastrophic interpretations that magnify relatively minor setbacks into seemingly major obstacles and through negative views of life experiences as unacceptable, dissatisfying, and meaningless. This investigation tests the EMPDS in a sample of 240 undergraduates studied using a 4-wave, 4-week longitudinal design. Hypotheses derived from the EMPDS were largely supported, with bootstrap tests of mediation suggesting that the indirect effect of perfectionistic concerns on depressive symptoms through catastrophic thinking and difficulty accepting the past is significant. Results indicated perfectionistic concerns are more an antecedent of, rather than a complication of, catastrophic thinking, difficulty accepting the past, and depressive symptoms. Consistent (but imperfect) support for the incremental validity of the EMPDS beyond either perfectionistic strivings or neuroticism was also observed. Overall, this investigation suggests persons high in perfectionistic concerns not only tend to catastrophize their life experiences but also struggle to accept their life experiences and to negotiate a sense of purpose, direction, and coherence in their lives. With both a catastrophic view of their present and a dark view of their past, this investigation also suggests persons high in perfectionistic concerns are at risk for depressive symptoms.

Is self-critical perfectionism an antecedent of depressive symptoms, a consequence of depressive symptoms, or both? In the present study, self-critical perfectionism (i.e., harsh criticism of one's actions, negative reactions to perceived failures, and extreme concerns over others' evaluations) and depressive symptoms were conceptualised as a unified, interlocking syndrome wherein self-critical perfectionism and depressive symptoms reciprocally influence each other over time. This reciprocal relations model was tested in 240 undergraduates studied using a four-wave, 4-week longitudinal design. As hypothesised, reciprocal relations were observed between self-critical perfectionism and depressive symptoms, with self-critical perfectionism predicting changes in depressive symptoms and vice versa. Results suggest persons high in self-critical perfectionism may find themselves entangled in an escalating pattern where self-critical perfectionism both leads to, and results from, depressive symptoms. Research focused exclusively on unidirectional relations between self-critical perfectionism and depressive symptoms may ignore information critical to accurately understanding self-critical perfectionism, depressive symptoms, and their interrelation. Instead of assuming unidirectional relations between self-critical perfectionism and depressive symptoms, researchers are encouraged to test for reciprocal relations between these two variables.

The perfectionism model of binge eating (PMOBE) is an integrative model explaining why perfectionism is related to binge eating. This study reformulates and tests the PMOBE, with a focus on addressing limitations observed in the perfectionism and binge-eating literature. In the reformulated PMOBE, concern over mistakes is seen as a destructive aspect of perfectionism contributing to a cycle of binge eating via 4 binge-eating maintenance variables: interpersonal discrepancies, low interpersonal esteem, depressive affect, and dietary restraint. This test of the reformulated PMOBE involved 200 undergraduate women studied using a 3-wave longitudinal design. As hypothesized, concern over mistakes appears to represent a vulnerability factor for binge eating. Bootstrapped tests of mediation suggested concern over mistakes contributes to binge eating through binge-eating maintenance variables, and results supported the incremental validity of the reformulated PMOBE beyond perfectionistic strivings and neuroticism. The reformulated PMOBE also predicted binge eating, but not binge drinking, supporting the specificity of this model. The reformulated PMOBE offers a framework for understanding how key contributors to binge eating work together to generate and to maintain binge eating.

These results provide evidence supporting the use of the identified BPFAS three-factor model for samples of young children with ASD.