Review: Assessment, development, and treatment of childhood perfectionism: a systematic review
Abstract
Background In the adult literature, perfectionism has been linked with psychopathology and poor treatment outcomes, leading to perfectionism-focussed therapies. The child and adolescent perfectionism literature is comparatively sparse. Method A systematic search of five electronic databases (Web of Knowledge, APA PsycNET, PubMed, ERIC/ProQuest, and Scopus) was conducted to identify studies of perfectionism in children and adolescents, in the context of psychopathology. Results The search identified 133 studies, 84 of which discussed perfectionism as a correlate of mental health problems. These studies were briefly synthesised, with the systematic review focussing on evaluating papers on the development (n = 23), assessment (n = 19), and treatment (n = 7) of perfectionism. Conclusion Treatment studies did not reflect the phenomenology of perfectionism found in this review.
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Childhood perfectionism research using the CAPS has revealed links to anxiety and depression similar to adult populations.
“The development of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS) has allowed for more research on childhood perfectionism that has revealed similar findings with adult populations”
From Maladaptive Perfectionism, Disguised Distress, and Help Seeking in the Culture of 'Saving Face': Links to Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among Asian Youth (2019) · cites this paper as Morris & Lomax, 2014
Cites
The dimensions of perfectionism
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Perfectionism as a transdiagnostic process: A clinical review
Egan, S. J., Wade, T. D., & Shafran, R. (2011) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.04.009 · Cited by 961 · see citing works
A cognitive behavioural theory of anorexia nervosa
Fairburn, C. G., Shafran, R., & Cooper, Z. (1999) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(98)00102-8 · Cited by 644 · see citing works
Psychological distress and the frequency of perfectionistic thinking.
Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., Blankstein, K. R., & Gray, L. (1998) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.75.5.1363 · Cited by 405 · see citing works
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Developmental Trajectories of Maladaptive Perfectionism in Middle Childhood
Hong, R. Y., Lee, S. S. M., Chng, R. Y., Zhou, Y., Tsai, F., & Tan, S. H. (2017) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12249 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Measuring perfectionism in children: a systematic review of the mental health literature
Leone, E. M., & Wade, T. D. (2018) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1078-8 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Vekas, E. J., & Wade, T. D. (2017) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjc.12152 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Wong, A. (2019) · PsyArXiv Preprints · doi:10.31234/osf.io/83gkw · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Morris, L., & Lomax, C.
- Affiliations
- University of Bath (GB)
- Venue
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-06-11
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 225-234
- ISSN
- 1475-357X (ISSN-L)
- 1475-3588
- OpenAlex
- W2010732942
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 1.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- psychopathology
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