The relation between perfectionism and distress: Hassles, coping, and perceived social support as mediators and moderators.

Abstract

This study of university students (136 men and 307 women) examined the roles of hassles, avoidant and active coping, and perceived available social support in the relation between evaluative concerns and personal standards perfectionism and distress symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the measurement model used in this study. Structural equation modeling results indicated that hassles, avoidant coping, and perceived social support are each unique mediators that can fully explain the strong relation between evaluative concerns perfectionism and distress. Personal standards perfectionism had a unique association with active coping only. Hassles and social support also moderated the relation between both dimensions of perfectionism and distress. Clinical implications of distinguishing between evaluative concerns and personal standards perfectionism are discussed. Depression and anxiety have been identified as common problems for university students. In an extensive survey of student needs at a large urban university, more than one third of the students reported a need for assistance with depression and anxiety (Bishop, Bauer, & Becker, 1998). Miller and Rice (1993) examined the presenting problem of students attending a university counseling center and found that 53% admitted that depression was troubling them and approximately 30% admitted problems with concentration, fears, and nervousness, respectively. Historically, perfectionism has most often been described as a negative attribute that can play a role in these psychological disturbances (Adler, 1956; Blatt, 1995; Freud, 1926/1959; Hamachek, 1978; Homey, 1950; Pacht, 1984). Indeed, perfectionism has been associated with a wide range of psychological problems, such as depression (Hewitt & Flett, 1991a), suicidal preoccupation (Adkins & Parker, 1996), anxiety (Alden, Bieling, & Wallace, 1994), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (Rheaume, Freeston, Dugas, Letarte, & Ladouceur, 1995), social phobia (Juster et al., 1996), and eating disorders (Garner, Olmstead, & Polivy, 1983). Furthermore,