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Perfectionism and Self-Esteem: The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs
1University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.
Psychological Reports
|November 26, 2024
Summary
Basic psychological needs explain how perfectionism affects self-esteem. Needs satisfaction links to higher self-esteem with perfectionistic strivings, while needs frustration links to lower self-esteem with perfectionistic concerns.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Self-Determination Theory
Background:
- Perfectionism comprises two forms: perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings.
- Previous research links concerns to lower self-esteem and strivings to higher self-esteem.
- The mediating factors for these differing relationships remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of basic psychological needs (competence, autonomy, relatedness) in explaining the link between perfectionism types and self-esteem.
- Examine how needs satisfaction and frustration mediate these relationships.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with 255 (Study 1) and 260 (Study 2) participants.
- Self-determination theory provided the framework.
- Assessed perfectionistic concerns, perfectionistic strivings, psychological needs satisfaction/frustration, and self-esteem.
Main Results:
- Perfectionistic strivings correlated with higher needs satisfaction and lower needs frustration.
- Perfectionistic concerns correlated with lower needs satisfaction and higher needs frustration.
- Needs satisfaction mediated the positive link between strivings and self-esteem; needs frustration mediated the negative link between concerns and self-esteem.
Conclusions:
- Basic psychological needs are crucial in understanding why certain perfectionism types benefit self-esteem while others harm it.
- Needs satisfaction and frustration offer a theoretical explanation for the divergent effects of perfectionism on self-esteem.
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