ArticlePublisher preview available

Caught in a Bad Romance: Perfectionism, Conflict, and Depression in Romantic Relationships

Authors:
  • Toronto Metropolitan University
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

According to the social disconnection model, perfectionistic concerns (i.e., harsh self-scrutiny, extreme concern over mistakes and others' evaluations, and excessive reactions to perceived failures) confer vulnerability to depressive symptoms indirectly through interpersonal problems. This study tested the social disconnection model in 226 heterosexual romantic dyads using a mixed longitudinal and experience sampling design. Perfectionistic concerns were measured using three partner-specific self-report questionnaires. Conflict was measured as a dyadic variable, incorporating reports from both partners. Depressive symptoms were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Perfectionistic concerns and depressive symptoms were measured at Day 1 and Day 28. Aggregated dyadic conflict was measured with daily online questionnaires from Days 2 to 15. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. There were four primary findings: (a) Dyadic conflict mediated the link between perfectionistic concerns and depressive symptoms, even when controlling for baseline depressive symptoms; (b) depressive symptoms were both an antecedent and a consequence of dyadic conflict; (c) perfectionistic concerns incrementally predicted dyadic conflict and depressive symptoms beyond neuroticism (i.e., a tendency to experience negative emotions) and other-oriented perfectionism (i.e., rigidly demanding perfection from one's partner); and (d) the relationships among variables did not differ based on gender. As the most rigorous test of the social disconnection model to date, this study provides strong support for this emerging model. Results also clarify the characterological and the interpersonal context within which depressive symptoms are likely to occur.
Caught in a Bad Romance:
Perfectionism, Conflict, and Depression in Romantic Relationships
Sean P. Mackinnon and Simon B. Sherry
Dalhousie University Martin M. Antony
Ryerson University
Sherry H. Stewart
Dalhousie University Dayna L. Sherry
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Nikola Hartling
Saint Mary’s University
According to the social disconnection model, perfectionistic concerns (i.e., harsh self-scrutiny, extreme
concern over mistakes and others’ evaluations, and excessive reactions to perceived failures) confer
vulnerability to depressive symptoms indirectly through interpersonal problems. This study tested the
social disconnection model in 226 heterosexual romantic dyads using a mixed longitudinal and experi-
ence sampling design. Perfectionistic concerns were measured using three partner-specific self-report
questionnaires. Conflict was measured as a dyadic variable, incorporating reports from both partners.
Depressive symptoms were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Perfectionistic concerns and
depressive symptoms were measured at Day 1 and Day 28. Aggregated dyadic conflict was measured
with daily online questionnaires from Days 2 to 15. Data were analyzed using structural equation
modeling. There were four primary findings: (a) Dyadic conflict mediated the link between perfection-
istic concerns and depressive symptoms, even when controlling for baseline depressive symptoms; (b)
depressive symptoms were both an antecedent and a consequence of dyadic conflict; (c) perfectionistic
concerns incrementally predicted dyadic conflict and depressive symptoms beyond neuroticism (i.e., a
tendency to experience negative emotions) and other-oriented perfectionism (i.e., rigidly demanding
perfection from one’s partner); and (d) the relationships among variables did not differ based on gender.
As the most rigorous test of the social disconnection model to date, this study provides strong support
for this emerging model. Results also clarify the characterological and the interpersonal context within
which depressive symptoms are likely to occur.
Keywords: perfectionism, conflict, depression, dyads, longitudinal
Perfectionistic concerns and depressive symptoms are robustly
associated, but the mechanisms linking perfectionistic concerns to
depressive symptoms are not well understood. Clarifying such
mechanisms is important, as these mechanisms point toward as-
sessment and treatment targets. The social disconnection model
(e.g., Hewitt, Flett, Sherry, & Caelian, 2006; Sherry, Law, Hewitt,
Flett, & Besser, 2008) is an emerging theoretical framework clar-
ifying how perfectionistic concerns generate depressive symptoms
through negative social behaviors (e.g., conflictual interactions),
cognitions (e.g., perceiving others as uncaring), and outcomes
(e.g., romantic breakups). A distressing sense of social disconnec-
tion (i.e., conflict with and alienation from others) is thus seen as
central to the struggles of depressed perfectionists. According to
this model, perfectionistic concerns confer vulnerability for de-
This article was published Online First February 20, 2012.
Sean P. Mackinnon, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie Univer-
sity, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Simon B. Sherry and Sherry H.
Stewart, Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Dalhousie Univer-
sity, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Martin M. Antony, Department of
Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Dayna L.
Sherry, Department of Psychology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences
Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; Nikola Hartling, Department of
Psychology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
This article was based on a research project conducted by Sean P. Mack-
innon as part of his comprehensive examinations. Sean P. Mackinnon was
supervised by Simon B. Sherry. This article was supported by a grant from the
Dalhousie University Research Development Fund for the Humanities and
Social Sciences awarded to Simon B. Sherry and to Sherry H. Stewart. This
article was also supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada Standard Research Grant awarded to Simon B.
Sherry and to Martin M. Antony. Sean P. Mackinnon was supported by a
Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Re-
search Council and an honorary Izaak Walton Killam Level II Scholarship.
Sherry H. Stewart was supported by a Killam Research Professorship at the
time this research was conducted. We thank Sarah Doucette, Skye Fitzpatrick,
and Brittany Orchard for their research assistance.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Simon B.
Sherry, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences
Centre, 1355 Oxford Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Can-
ada, B3H 4R2. E-mail: simon.sherry@dal.ca
Journal of Family Psychology © 2012 American Psychological Association
2012, Vol. 26, No. 2, 215–225 0893-3200/12/$12.00 DOI: 10.1037/a0027402
215
This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.
This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.
... Furthermore, dyadic perfectionism has been linked to dysfunctional interpersonal traits, including conflict, apathy, and hostility (Stoeber, 2014). Several studies have provided solid evidence supporting the negative relationship between dyadic perfectionism, the quality of the relationship (Mackinnon et al., 2012), and relationship satisfaction (Stoeber, 2012). ...
... As a result, most of the studies reviewed above showed a negative correlation between perfectionism and marital satisfaction (Casale et al., 2020;Gingras et al., 2021;Gol et al., 2013;Lopez et al., 2006;Mee et al., 2015;Nadiri and Khalatbari, 2018;Safarzadeh et al., 2011;Casale et al., 2020;Stoeber, 2012;Trub et al., 2018;Vangeel et al., 2020). Marital conflict is another common consequence of perfectionism in couples (Lafontaine et al., 2020;Mackinnon et al., 2012;Piotrowski, 2020;Tosun and Yazici, 2021). Therefore, it can be said that after marital satisfaction, marital conflict can be another consequence of perfectionism in couples. ...
... There was a Sig. negative relationship between otheroriented PERF (r = 0.143) and socially-oriented PERF (2012) and Mackinnon et al. (2012) underscore that when individuals hold their partners to unattainable standards, this "other-oriented" perfectionism tends to correlate with higher levels of conflict, diminished relational satisfaction, and even marital burnout in extreme cases. The findings across these studies converge in emphasizing that perfectionism, particularly in its maladaptive forms, undermines marital outcomes by promoting unrealistic expectations and dissatisfaction. ...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction Perfectionism, as a transdiagnostic variable, can influence both the intrapersonal and interpersonal domains, one of the most significant of them is thought to be marital relationship. Given that perfectionism within a couple can negatively affect their intimate relationship and potentially lead to destructive outcomes, reviewing studies conducted in this area seems to be essential to gain a clearer understanding. Therefore, the present systematic review aims to examine the association between perfectionism and marital outcomes in married individuals. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across major scientific databases, including APA PsycArticles, PubMed, and Web of Science, using specific keywords and Boolean operators. Included were the English-Language studies published between 1980 and 2023 that investigated the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes in heterosexual couples. Out of the studies identified, 23 met the inclusion criteria for this review, of which 16 studies met the criteria for meta-analysis. Results The meta-analysis indicated a small-to-moderate effect size for the association between perfectionism and marital outcomes (r = 0.26). Given the importance of marital relationship, such effect sizes for variables which may influence marital relationship bears significant value. Discussion Therefore, the findings may encourage researchers to conduct various studies to examine specific details, moderators, and mediators in the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes and may also prompt couple therapists to address perfectionism as a destructive factor and integrate strategies into their protocols to reduce its impact in intimate relationships.
... Conflict behaviors, which refer to critical, hostile, or rejecting behaviors directed at one's partner (Kim, Smith et al., 2022), have been found to be positively correlated with depressive symptoms, dissatisfaction with the relationship, drinking and gambling to cope with depression, and decreased life satisfaction (Hagen et al., 2023;Lambe et al., 2015;Mackinnon et al., 2012Mackinnon et al., , 2017. Research on the stress generation hypothesis within couples has focused primarily on relationship discord, such as disagreements on household tasks, money, and sex, and its reciprocal associations with depressive symptoms (e.g., Choi & Marks, 2008). ...
... Additionally, conflict behaviors may result from depressive symptoms, such as a negative worldview, and erode intimacy in the relationship (Joiner et al., 2005). Despite this, only a limited number of longitudinal studies have examined reciprocal associations between depressive symptoms and conflict behaviors in romantic relationships (Kim, Smith et al., 2022;Mackinnon et al., 2012). Mackinnon and colleagues (2012) examined the link between perfectionism, depressive symptoms, and dyadic conflict in heterosexual, adult romantic couples and found that perfectionism led to an increase in depressive symptoms through dyadic conflict. ...
... Mackinnon and colleagues (2012) examined the link between perfectionism, depressive symptoms, and dyadic conflict in heterosexual, adult romantic couples and found that perfectionism led to an increase in depressive symptoms through dyadic conflict. Although the analysis strategy was not designed to address the stress generation hypothesis, Mackinnon et al. (2012) reported a pathway consistent with this hypothesis from depressive symptoms at baseline, to dyadic conflict at the second assessment, to depressive symptoms at the third assessment. However, they conceptualized romantic conflict as a dyadic construct and combined reports of conflict behaviors from both members of the couple into a single variable. ...
Article
Introduction: In this study we investigated the stress generation hypothesis in romantic relationships, testing how individuals’ depressive symptoms can lead to interpersonal stress that worsens their depressive symptoms. Interpersonal stress was operationalized as conflict enactment (critical, hostile, and rejecting behaviors toward one's romantic partner) and breakup rumination (persistent and intense thoughts of ending the relationship). Methods: Participants included 226 heterosexual adult romantic couples, with a mean age of 21.48 years for women and 22.35 years for men. A short-term longitudinal design was employed, involving three waves of data collection, including a daily diary portion. Depressive symptoms were measured in the lab at the beginning of the study (Wave 1) and again one month later (Wave 3). Following Wave 1, conflict enactment and breakup rumination were measured online over a 14-day period (Wave 2) through daily diary entries, which were then averaged across the 14 days into a single score for each construct. Results: Using actor-partner interdependence mediation modelling, we found women's and men's depressive symptoms at Wave 1 positively predicted their own conflict enactment and breakup rumination at Wave 2, as well as their own depressive symptoms at Wave 3 (actor effects). Women's depressive symptoms at Wave 1 positively predicted men's conflict enactment at Wave 2 (partner effect). Additionally, women's conflict enactment at Wave 2 positively predicted their own depressive symptoms at Wave 3 (actor effect) and mediated the increase in their own depressive symptoms from Wave 1 to 3 (indirect effect). Discussion: Findings illustrate how depressive symptoms are embedded in an interpersonal context and exacerbated by conflictual behaviors within romantic relationships over a period of one month.
... Perfectionism research typically assumes that socially prescribed perfectionism involves a generalized perception of others expecting perfection . The handful of studies on domain-specific socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., within specific relationships) has focused on romantic partnerships (e.g., Mackinnon et al., 2012Mackinnon et al., , 2017Stoeber, 2012). For example, Mackinnon et al. (2012) developed a romantic partner-specific measure of socially prescribed perfectionism, which, when combined with other dysfunctional beliefs about relationships, prospectively predicted dyadic conflict and depressive symptoms. ...
... The handful of studies on domain-specific socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., within specific relationships) has focused on romantic partnerships (e.g., Mackinnon et al., 2012Mackinnon et al., , 2017Stoeber, 2012). For example, Mackinnon et al. (2012) developed a romantic partner-specific measure of socially prescribed perfectionism, which, when combined with other dysfunctional beliefs about relationships, prospectively predicted dyadic conflict and depressive symptoms. While the literature on socially prescribed perfectionism has emphasized perceived expectations of others in general (e.g., Smith et al., 2017) or specifically from romantic partners (e.g., Mackinnon et al., 2012), there is a noticeable gap concerning how socially prescribed perfectionism affects close friendships. ...
... For example, Mackinnon et al. (2012) developed a romantic partner-specific measure of socially prescribed perfectionism, which, when combined with other dysfunctional beliefs about relationships, prospectively predicted dyadic conflict and depressive symptoms. While the literature on socially prescribed perfectionism has emphasized perceived expectations of others in general (e.g., Smith et al., 2017) or specifically from romantic partners (e.g., Mackinnon et al., 2012), there is a noticeable gap concerning how socially prescribed perfectionism affects close friendships. Given the importance of friendships to emerging adults' well-being (e.g., Flett, 2022;Flett et al., 2019) and evidence suggesting that people with higher socially prescribed perfectionism tend to experience lower levels of friendship intimacy (Mackinnon et al., 2014), there is a need for research evaluating the internal reliability, concurrent validity, and predictive validity of a friendshipspecific measure of socially prescribed perfectionism. ...
Article
Full-text available
Friendships are important for the mental well-being of emerging adults. Socially prescribed perfectionism, where individuals feel pressured to be perfect by others, can be destructive, leading to conflict with others, depressive symptoms, and problematic drinking. However, its impact on friendships is not well-explored. This study examined 174 emerging adult friendship dyads using a 4-wave, 4-month dyadic design. Data were analyzed using longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models. Using a novel friend-specific measure of socially prescribed perfectionism, we found that an individual's perceived expectation to be perfect from a friend was positively associated with increased conflict between friends, as well as with higher levels of depressive symptoms and problematic drinking in the individual. Findings lend credence to longstanding theoretical accounts and case histories suggesting socially prescribed perfectionism leads to harmful individual and relational outcomes and extends them to the specific context of friendships.
... Frost et al. (1990) operationalizes some of perfectionism's facets by assessing concern over mistakes (being extremely concerned about making errors and failing to comply with set standards), doubts about actions (uncertainties about one's own performance), and personal standards (setting of high standards for one's own behavior). Concern over mistakes and doubts about actions are generally regarded as maladaptive aspects of perfectionism linked to various psychopathologies, such as depression, anxiety, interpersonal conflict, and binge eating (Damian et al., 2017;Mackinnon et al., 2012). In comparison, some researchers have suggested that personal standards can be adaptive or neutral, promoting resiliency that buffers against depressive symptoms (Enns et al., 2005;Stoeber & Otto, 2006;Wu & Wei, 2008). ...
... The SEM results partially corroborated existing literature, revealing positive associations between COM and DAA with both depressive and anxiety symptoms (Damian et al., 2017;Mackinnon et al., 2012), while PS demonstrated a negative association with depressive symptoms (Enns et al., 2005;Stoeber & Otto, 2006;Wu & Wei, 2008). On the other hand, Sample 2's factor structure was somewhat weaker than anticipated, which is generally obscured in multiple regression-style research using sum scores. ...
Article
Full-text available
Network models of psychopathology can identify specific items/symptoms that explain the connections among broader constructs such as depression, anxiety, and perfectionism. In two studies, we examine the dynamic interplay between depression, anxiety, and perfectionism symptoms among undergraduates using structural equation modeling (SEM) and network analysis. Participants in two independent samples (N = 774 and N = 759) completed online, cross-sectional questionnaires including measures of anxiety, depressive symptoms, and perfectionism (i.e., concerns over mistakes , doubts about actions, and personal standards). When analyzing data in the traditional fashion using SEM as a point of comparison, results from both samples were consistent with the existing literature. After controlling for all other perfectionism variables in the model, concerns over mistakes and doubts about actions were positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms (βs from .21 to .46), while personal standards showed negative associations with depressive symptoms (β =-.20 both samples) and non-significant associations with anxiety symptoms (βs from-.09. to-.03). Nonetheless, model fit for the confirmatory factor model was below ideal cutoffs in the second sample, suggesting other structures (e.g., a network model) might better represent the data. Network analyses revealed associations between constructs at the item level across both samples. Four key symptoms emerged as central nodes linking depression , anxiety, and perfectionism: difficulty taking initiative to do activities, feeling worthless, feeling close to panic, and doubts about simple everyday activities. This study underscores the importance of investigating item-level associations for a nuanced interpretation of these constructs.
... Higher levels of perfectionism conflict with the nature of love, which involves accepting each other's imperfections and personal growth (Yovani & Rumondor, 2021). In this situation, couples experience love along with demands, relationship conflicts, violence, criticism, rejection, and feeling misunderstood by their emotional partner (Mackinnon et al., 2012). ...
... Individuals with perfectionistic attitudes believe that a close interpersonal relationship with their life partner is conditional on being flawless. Since true perfection is unattainable, these individuals realize the impossibility of achieving their high standards, leading to feelings of failure (Mackinnon et al., 2012). Men and women who believe their high expectations are not met by their life partner experience lower quality in terms of intimacy, security, satisfaction, commitment, love, and empathy in their relationships (Stoeber, 2012). ...
... Higher mean PSRBS scores represented greater perceived conflict enactment against their partner between January 15 and February 15, 2021. The PSRBS has demonstrated strong internal consistency, test-retest reliability in previous dyadic studies (Mackinnon et al., 2012). In the present study, reliability score for the PSRBS was .95. ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: Antisociality, a constellation of antagonistic personality styles, has been shown to increase conflict in romantic couples. However, the malleable mechanisms that underpin how antisociality drives conflict within both partners in couples remain less explored. Method: Using a dyadic framework, the present study examined whether emotion dysregulation and/or hazardous drinking explained the association between antisociality and dyadic conflict among married and cohabitating couples (N = 962). An actor–partner interdependence mediation model was used to evaluate intrapersonal and interpersonal influences. Results: Several parallel pathways emerged involving emotion dysregulation, with higher levels of actor antisociality associated with (a) greater actor conflict perpetration through actor emotion dysregulation, (b) greater actor conflict perpetration through partner emotion dysregulation, (c) greater partner conflict perpetration through actor emotion dysregulation, and (d) greater partner conflict perpetration through partner emotion dysregulation. No evidence of chained mediation was obtained. Conclusions: Overall, these findings indicate that emotion dysregulation and hazardous drinking are important mechanisms underlying the association between antisociality and couples’ conflict; however, the lack of chained mediation suggests that their influences are exerted independently rather than sequentially. Results also emphasize the importance of interventions adopting both a dyadic perspective to account for the interpersonal nature of the links of antisociality with conflict through emotion dysregulation and hazardous drinking in couples.
... loneliness that were small/negative (Chang et al., 2011;Chang et al., 2008;Flett et al., 1996;Muyan & Chang, 2015;Wang et al., 2009) or a small/positive (Chang, 2013(Chang, , 2017Dobos et al., 2024;Harper et al., 2020). Some studies even decided to exclude measures of perfectionistic standards to focus on perfectionistic concerns (e.g., Flett et al., 2016;Mackinnon et al., 2012). ...
Preprint
The Model of Excellencism and Perfectionism (MEP) differentiates striving toward high and realistic standards from striving for perfectionistic standards. Two studies situated excellencism and perfectionism within the nomological network of the Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM). Study 1 (n=284) showed that excellencism and perfectionism were distinctively associated with loneliness, social goals, self-presentation strategies, and sacrificing social and community goals. Study 2 (n=396) replicated the associations with loneliness and showed higher frustration of the need for relatedness in perfection strivers than in excellence strivers. The results emphasized the importance of distinguishing between perfectionism and excellencism to understand their unique roles in psychological and social adjustment, with perfectionism leading to social disconnection and excellencism promoting healthier relationships.
Article
Objective Youth with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) experience elevated rates of internalizing symptoms, although more research is required to understand this phenomenon. Perfectionism, a multidimensional personality trait that involves dimensions such as striving for flawlessness (self-oriented perfectionism) and feeling that others demand perfection (socially-prescribed perfectionism), is a well-known risk factor for internalizing symptoms that has received minimal attention in pediatric populations. Preregistered hypotheses explored the relationships between youth and parent perfectionism and symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth with JIA, as mediated by (a) youth/parent negative self-evaluations and (b) youth self-concealment. Methods One hundred fifty-six dyads comprised of youth (13–18 years) with JIA and a caregiver completed online questionnaires about trait perfectionism, negative self-evaluations (i.e., pain catastrophizing and fear of pain), self-concealment, and internalizing symptoms. Results Positive relationships were observed between parent/youth self-oriented perfectionism and negative self-evaluations, youth self-oriented perfectionism and internalizing symptoms, and youth negative self-evaluations and internalizing symptoms. Parent self-oriented perfectionism was negatively related to youth depression symptoms. Indirect effects were observed for youth self-oriented perfectionism predicting anxiety and depression symptoms through pain catastrophizing (a1b1 = 0.13 and 0.12, 95% CI [.03, .24 and .03, .22], respectively). Exploratory mediations suggested youth socially-prescribed perfectionism might predict internalizing symptoms directly and indirectly through self-concealment. Conclusion Youth and parent perfectionism are implicated in the internalizing symptoms of youth with JIA and may manifest through youth negative self-evaluations (e.g., catastrophic thoughts) and self-concealment. While future research is needed, screening for perfectionistic tendencies in this population may help guide assessment, prevention, and treatment efforts.
Article
Full-text available
Spanish-language measures of the Big Five personality dimensions are needed for research on Hispanic minority populations. Three studies were conducted to evaluate a Spanish version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) (O. P. John et al., 1991) and explore the generalizability of the Big Five factor structure in Latin cultural groups. In Study 1, a cross-cultural design was used to compare the Spanish and English BFI in college students from Spain and the United States, to assess factor congruence across languages, and to test convergence with indigenous Spanish Big Five markers. In Study 2, a bilingual design was used to compare the Spanish and English BFI in a college-educated sample of bilingual Hispanics and to test convergent and discriminant validity across the two languages as well as with the NEO Five Factor Inventory in both English and Spanish. Study 3 replicated the BFI findings from Study 2 in a working-class Hispanic bilingual sample. Results show that (a) the Spanish BFI may serve as an efficient, reliable, and factorially valid measure of the Big Five for research on Spanish-speaking individuals and (b) there is little evidence for substantial cultural differences in personality structure at the broad level of abstraction represented by the Big Five dimensions.
Article
Full-text available
A congruency between personality and life stress is assumed to pose a particular risk for depression. The authors review relevant research as a way of examining broader issues entailed in diathesis–stress models of depression. Topics include the identification of distinct personality modes and the differentiation of these modes from the phenomena of depression and the influence of the social context. Diathesis–stress models face formidable conceptual and methodological challenges. More complex models are needed to accommodate the dynamics of a person's life course, involvement in significant social contexts, and fluctuations in vulnerability to depression. Base rates of key phenomena favor development of models of depression recurrence in high-risk samples rather than its onset in the general population.
Article
Full-text available
This study of university students (64 men and 99 women) examined both dispositional and situational influences of self-critical (SC) perfectionism on stress and coping, which explain its association with high negative affect and low positive affect. Participants completed questionnaires at the end of the day for 7 consecutive days. Structural equation modeling indicated that the relation between SC perfectionism and daily affect could be explained by several maladaptive tendencies associated with SC perfectionism (e.g., hassles, avoidant coping, low perceived social support). Multilevel modeling indicated that SC perfectionists were emotionally reactive to stressors that imply possible failure, loss of control, and criticism from others. As well, certain coping strategies (e.g., problem-focused coping) were ineffective for high-SC perfectionists relative to low-SC perfectionists.
Book
Full-text available
The Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy is the definitive, practical guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for clinicians and researchers. IPT is a well-researched, time-limited, and diagnosis-focused therapy. An update and expansion of the original 1984, 2000, and 2007 IPT manuals, this guide illustrates not only individual IPT treatment for patients with major depression but also adaptations of IPT for different diagnoses, patient populations, and treatment formats. This book is the basis for the extensive research that has validated IPT and led to its listing in treatment guidelines. Written by the originators of the treatment and one of its leading researchers, this updated and expanded guide describes how to approach clinical encounters with patients, how to focus IPT treatment, and how to handle therapeutic difficulties. IPT can be combined with medication, and it is a safe alternative to medication for individuals who may not be able to take antidepressants. IPT has been shown not only to relieve symptoms but to build social skills as well. Learn how to use IPT to effectively treat depression and other disorders including bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, posttraumatic stress, and borderline personality disorder. With clinical examples and sample therapist scripts throughout, The Guide summarizes the theoretical and empirical background of IPT and focuses on teaching you the best way to deliver this effective, immensely practical treatment.