Cited by 67Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety StudiesBody Image and Dysmorphia StudiesObsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders

Perfectionism in adolescence: Associations with gender, age, and socioeconomic status in a Norwegian sample

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Sand, Liv, Bøe, Tormod, Shafran, Roz, Stormark, Kjell Morten, Hysing, Mari·2021·Frontiers in Public Health

Abstract

Background: Perfectionism in adolescence has received increased attention, but few studies have examined this in non-clinical samples. This study investigated perfectionism among adolescents from the general population in relation to demographic factors. Methods: The present study is cross-sectional and draws on the epidemiological youth@hordaland study. The sample consisted of 10.217 adolescents aged 16–19 years (52.9% girls). Self-reported perfectionism was assessed by the EDI-P scale from the Eating Disorder Inventory with two dimensions of perfectionism, namely self-oriented (SOP) and socially prescribed (SPP) perfectionism, and a total score. Perfectionism was analyzed in relation to age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES) by perceived economic well-being and parental education level. Chi-squared tests, t -tests, and regression analyses were performed. Results: There were few gender differences on the mean scores on perfectionism, with similar levels on the total score of EDI-P and SOP, while girls scored slightly higher on SPP ( p < 0.001). The latter gender difference represented a small effect size (Cohen's d = 0.053). Chi-square analyses with perfectionism split at the 90th percentile across gender showed that there were significantly more girls than boys among the high scorers both for EDI-P, EDI-SOP, and EDI-SPP. There were no significant differences between levels of perfectionism between the three age groups. The logistic regression analyses adjusted by age and gender showed that adolescents with a better perceived economic well-being had increased odds of high perfectionism. This was evident for overall EDI-P (OR = 1.760, 95% CI = 1.493–2.076), SOP (OR = 1.543, 95% CI = 1.292–1.843), and SPP (OR = 1.836, 95% CI = 1.559–2.163). Parental education was not significantly associated with perfectionism scores among the adolescents. Conclusions: The levels of perfectionism were relatively similar between the genders in the present study, besides slightly higher SPP among girls than boys. There were also significantly more girls than boys among the high scorers on overall perfectionism, SOP, and SPP, respectively. High perfectionism was related to SES for perceived economic well-being, but not for parental education level. Implications for further research and clinical interventions were suggested.

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  • A study of adolescents from Norway suggests better perceived economic wellbeing is associated with higher perfectionism, but parental education is not.

    “A further study of adolescents from the same country suggests significantly more girls than boys score higher than the 90th percentile on perfectionism and that a better perceived economic wellbeing was associated with higher perfectionism, but parental education was not (Sand et al., 2021).”
  • A study of adolescents from Norway suggests significantly more girls than boys score higher than the 90th percentile on perfectionism.

    “A further study of adolescents from the same country suggests significantly more girls than boys score higher than the 90th percentile on perfectionism and that a better perceived economic wellbeing was associated with higher perfectionism, but parental education was not (Sand et al., 2021).”

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  1. [47]Cooper Z Stewart H. CBT-E and the younger patient. In: Fairburn CG, editor. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Eating Disorders. New York, NY: The Guilford Press (2008). p. 221– 30.

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Authors
Sand, L., Bøe, T., Shafran, R., Stormark, K. M., & Hysing, M.
Affiliations
  • Western Norway Regional Health Authority (NO)
  • NORCE Research AS (NO)
  • University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Sand, Liv
Venue
Frontiers in Public Health
Published
2021-08-25
Volume
9
Pages
688811-688811
ISSN
2296-2565 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3193442700
Cited by
58
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 5
FWCI
4.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Frontiers in Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute for Health and Care Research
  • Helse Vest
  • NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Keywords
perfectionism, adolescents, self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, gender differences, socioeconomic status, parental education, age differences, non-clinical adolescents, Norwegian adolescents, eating disorder risk factors
MeSH terms
Perfectionism, Adolescent, Cross-Sectional Studies, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Male, Sex Factors, Social Class

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