Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Exploring the link between perfectionism and depressive symptoms: Contribution of rumination and defense styles
Carmen Senra1, Hipólito Merino1, Fátima Ferreiro1
1University of Santiago de Compostela.
Objective:
This study investigated the mediating and moderating roles of emotion-focused coping strategies (rumination and immature defenses) in the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms in a Spanish community sample.
Method:
438 participants (67.4% female; mean age = 36.94 years) completed self-reports assessing perfectionism, rumination, immature defenses and depression. Multiple mediation, moderation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted.
Results:
Brooding-rumination and immature defenses mediated the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms. Also, brooding-rumination moderated the impact of perfectionism on depressive symptoms. The mediating effect of brooding in the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms turned out to be moderated by immature defenses, such that the vulnerability link between perfectionism and depressive symptoms through brooding was stronger in individuals scoring high on immature defenses.
Conclusion:
Brooding-rumination and immature defenses may be essential mechanisms to explain the paths and conditions whereby maladaptive perfectionism gives rise to depression.
Related Concept Videos
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
Protecting Self-Esteem
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects

