Abstract
Background: Over 50 years of theory and research implicates perfectionism in anxiety. However, it is unclear which (if any) perfectionism dimensions are risk factors for anxiety. Objective: To address this, we conducted a meta-analysis testing whether socially prescribed perfectionism, concern over mistakes, doubts about actions, self-oriented perfectionism, and personal standards predict increases in anxiety. Method: Our literature search yielded 11 relevant studies for inclusion, composed of children, adolescents, undergraduates, community adults, and psychiatric patients. Results: Meta-analysis using random-effects models revealed concern over mistakes (r+=.11), doubts about actions (r+=.13), and personal standards (r+=.08), but not socially prescribed perfectionism or self-oriented perfectionism, displayed significant small positive relationships with follow-up anxiety, after controlling for baseline anxiety. Conclusion: Research is needed to understand the conditions under which the connection between perfectionism and anxiety becomes stronger (e.g., stress).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4-20 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Anxiety, Stress and Coping |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 435-2013-1304].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
- Psychiatry and Mental health
