Relationship Between Child Perfectionism and Psychological Disorders

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Perfectionism is linked to emotional development and clinical symptoms in children.
• Key dimensions of perfectionism include external pressure, self-exigency, and negative self-evaluation.
• These dimensions may differentially impact childhood clinical aspects like irritability and psychophysiological symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential impact of perfectionism dimensions on childhood clinical symptoms.
• To examine the mediating roles of self-exigency and negative self-evaluation in the relationship between external pressure and clinical symptoms.
• To analyze these relationships within a Spanish general population sample of children.

Main Methods:

• Random cluster sampling of 2,636 children aged 8–12 years.
• Utilized a serial multiple mediators model.
• Assessed irritability, worthlessness feelings, thinking problems, and psychophysiological symptoms.

Main Results:

• External pressure significantly predicted various clinical symptoms, including irritability, worthlessness, thinking problems, and psychophysiological symptoms.
• Self-exigency and negative self-evaluation mediated the relationship between external pressure and clinical symptomatology.
• External pressure and negative self-evaluation were identified as maladaptive, while self-exigency appeared protective.

Conclusions:

• External pressure and negative self-evaluation are risk factors for childhood clinical symptoms.
• Self-exigency demonstrates a protective role, fostering positive child development.
• Further study of these perfectionism variables is crucial for improving children's quality of life and development.