Perfectionism and depressive symptoms 3 years later: negative social interactions, avoidant coping, and perceived social support as mediators.

David M. Dunkley, Yale University School of Medicine
Charles A. Sanislow, Yale University School of Medicine
Carlos M. Grilo, Yale University School of Medicine
Thomas H. McGlashan, Yale University School of Medicine

Abstract

Although research has demonstrated perfectionism to have a negative impact on the treatment of depression, little research has examined the mechanisms or processes through which perfectionism predicts subsequent depressive symptoms in clinical populations over time. Using data from a prospective, 3-year study of a clinical sample (N = 96), hierarchical regression analyses indicated that perfectionism, assessed by the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (Weissman AN, Beck AT. Development and validation of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale: a preliminary investigation. Paper presented at the 86th annual convention of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; 1978), is distinguished from major depression and neuroticism for its relations to depressive symptoms and interpersonal maladjustment 3 years later. Drawing from the model of Dunkley et al (J Couns Psychol 2000;47:437-53), path analysis indicated that Dysfunctional Attitude Scale perfectionism was related to depressive symptoms 3 years later through a number of persistent maladaptive tendencies, including negative social interactions, avoidant coping, and negative perceptions of social support.