Articles tagged with: perfectionism

  • New Findings: Perfectionistic Thoughts and Mental Health During the Pandemic

    Check out Dr. Molnar’s latest research article on perfectionism and mental health among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic published @ Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Therapy with Dr. Terrance Wade, Dr. Tabitha Methot, Jessy Moore & Dr. Deborah O’Leary!

    For the full article, click here: https://rdcu.be/czUEa

    What is the study about?

    We examined how young adults’ perfectionism before the pandemic may be a risk factor for mental health (e.g., symptoms of anxiety and depression) during the pandemic.

    What did we find?

    Young adults (18-25 years old) who frequently think that they need to be perfect are experiencing more anxiety during the pandemic. Our results support Dr. Gordon Flett’s and Dr. Paul Hewitt’s work, which theorizes that perfectionism is a vulnerability factor for poorer mental health, especially when under stressful times, like a global pandemic!

    What about depressive symptoms?

    Our results did not show that thinking about the need to perfect predicted changes in depression from before the pandemic to during the pandemic.

    However, those who experienced more frequent perfectionistic thoughts before the pandemic experienced more depressive symptoms before the pandemic (within time).

    Along the same lines, young adults who experienced more frequent perfectionistic thoughts during the pandemic also experienced more symptoms of depression during the pandemic (within time).

    Did perfectionism change with the onset of the pandemic?

    Another interesting finding was that young people reported experiencing perfectionistic thoughts less frequently during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. This suggests that, at least early on in the pandemic, some young people gave themselves a bit of a break from demanding perfection of themselves.

    So what?

    Overall, our findings indicate that frequently thinking about the need to be perfect is not adaptive or helpful. Rather, it is a risk factor for poorer mental health as we move through this pandemic.

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  • New Results: Perfectionistic Thoughts and Immune Functioning

    Think needing to be perfect is good for you? Think again.

    Our latest work shows that perfectionism comes at a cost to your immune system. In our new study of young adults (aged 18 to 24 years), we found that individuals who more frequently thought about needing to be perfect had more dysregulated immune system functioning when they were under stress. This work helps to explain why perfectionists (even younger people) tend to report poorer health and well-being.

    Read more here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666354621000144

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  • Perfectionism and Youth Well-Being Webinar

    Join us Thursday March 11th, 2021 from 6 to 7 PM for a free webinar presented by Dr. Danielle Molnar along with graduate student Melissa Blackburn and Dr. Tabitha Methot-Jones.

    Do you ever feel like you need to be perfect all the time or are afraid to make mistakes? That might be a trait called perfectionism. But what is perfectionism and how does it influence health and well-being in children and youth?

    This free webinar presented via Lifesize will explore that question while also discussing:

    • Why are so many youth experiencing pressure to be perfect?
    • How can parents, educators, and youth-focused practitioners support youth struggling with perfectionism?
    • How are young perfectionists experiencing the pandemic?

    This webinar is free and open to the public, but early registration is required to gain access to the online event. RSVP online at www.brocku.ca/lifespan-development-research/youth-perfectionism/

    Instructions for joining the event will be sent following registration. Please email Jayne Morrish at jmorrish@brocku.ca if you have any questions.

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