Self-critical thinking mediates the relationship between perfectionism and perceived stress in undergraduate students: a longitudinal study

Journal article

The present study examined the concurrent and longitudinal relationships between multidimensional perfectionism, perceived stress, and self-critical thinking in a sample of UK university students. Specifically, to determine whether self-critical thinking at baseline mediated the longitudinal relationship between baseline perfectionism and future stress at follow-up. At baseline, N=220 students completed measures of multidimensional perfectionism, perceived stress, and self-critical thinking, whereas N=84 completed the same measures at follow-up. Socially prescribed, and self-oriented perfectionism were related to increased stress, self-hatred, and self-inadequacy at baseline. Longitudinal analysis revealed that baseline self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism were significantly related to increased reports of stress and self-critical thinking fifteen weeks later at follow-up. More crucially, multiple mediation analysis found self-hatred and inadequacy at baseline mediated the longitudinal relationship between baseline perfectionism and perceived stress at follow-up. Perfectionistic and self-critical thinking appears to accentuate the experience of perceived stress in the university student population. Student-based interventions to reduce self-critical thinking may prove beneficial in preventing the onset of perceived stress.

Authors: Stevenson, JC; Akram, U

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
• Volume: 10
• Article number: 100438
• Publication date: 2022-11-17
• Acceptance date: 2022-11-15
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100438
• EISSN: 2666-9153
• Language: English
• Keywords: Stress; Self perception; Personality; Perfectionism; FFR