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Perfectionism, Type A Behavior, and Self-Efficacy in Depression and Health Symptoms among Adolescents

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Abstract

The current study examined the associations among dimensions of perfectionism, Type A behavior, self-efficacy, distress, and health symptoms in high school students. A sample of 73 high school students (34 boys, 39 girls) completed measures of self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, Type A behavior, self-efficacy, depressive symptoms, and psychosomatic symptoms. Correlational analyses found that self-oriented perfectionism was marginally related to Type A behavior. Students with elevated levels of depressive symptoms were also characterized by self-oriented perfectionism, Type A behavior, low self-efficacy, and health symptoms. In addition, health symptoms were linked with low self-efficacy. Simultaneous entry of several variables into a regression analysis found that significant unique predictors of depression were low self-efficacy and elevated self-oriented perfectionism. Similarly, a regression analysis found that low self-efficacy and high self-oriented perfectionism were unique predictors of health symptoms. The findings highlight the distinctions between the perfectionism and the Type A constructs, and support self-regulation models of depression and physical symptoms that include an emphasis on excessive perfectionistic standards and low self-efficacy. We discuss the need for preventive interventions designed for perfectionistic adolescents with low self-efficacy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Gordon L. Flett & Teresa Panico

  2. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Paul L. Hewitt

Authors
  1. Gordon L. Flett
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  2. Teresa Panico
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  3. Paul L. Hewitt
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Correspondence to Gordon L. Flett.

Additional information

Gordon Flett was supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program. This research was supported by a major grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

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Flett, G.L., Panico, T. & Hewitt, P.L. Perfectionism, Type A Behavior, and Self-Efficacy in Depression and Health Symptoms among Adolescents. Curr Psychol 30, 105–116 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-011-9103-4

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