The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes
Perfectionism is a known risk for mental health symptoms. However, the literature on perfectionism and mental health mostly focused on the psychopathological symptoms when mental health is not only about the absence of psychopathology but also the presence of positive indicators. The present study a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1492466/full |
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| author | Patricia D. Simon Patricia D. Simon Maria Guadalupe C. Salanga John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta |
| author_facet | Patricia D. Simon Patricia D. Simon Maria Guadalupe C. Salanga John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta |
| author_sort | Patricia D. Simon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Perfectionism is a known risk for mental health symptoms. However, the literature on perfectionism and mental health mostly focused on the psychopathological symptoms when mental health is not only about the absence of psychopathology but also the presence of positive indicators. The present study aimed to examine the associations of adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism with bidimensional mental health among undergraduate students (N = 467) at a private university in the Philippines. We assessed the role of High Standards and Discrepancy perfectionism on the negative (depression, anxiety, and stress) and positive (satisfaction with life and meaning in life) indicators of mental health. Structural equation modeling demonstrated distinct associations of High Standards and Discrepancy on mental health and well-being outcomes. High Standards positively predicted stress and life satisfaction, and negatively predicted depression, presence of meaning, and search for meaning. High Standards did not have a significant effect on anxiety. Discrepancy positively predicted depression, anxiety, and stress and negatively predicted life satisfaction. Interestingly, presence of meaning was significantly and positively associated with Discrepancy while search for meaning was not. This study contributes to the literature by finding evidence for the distinct influence of Discrepancy and High Standards on several indicators of positive and negative mental health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d75969efdcd844aca4bc666c93b388df |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-d75969efdcd844aca4bc666c93b388df2025-08-20T02:41:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-03-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.14924661492466The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomesPatricia D. Simon0Patricia D. Simon1Maria Guadalupe C. Salanga2John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta3Department of Education Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, De La Salle University – Manila, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Psychology, De La Salle University – Manila, Manila, PhilippinesDepartment of Psychology, De La Salle University – Manila, Manila, PhilippinesPerfectionism is a known risk for mental health symptoms. However, the literature on perfectionism and mental health mostly focused on the psychopathological symptoms when mental health is not only about the absence of psychopathology but also the presence of positive indicators. The present study aimed to examine the associations of adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism with bidimensional mental health among undergraduate students (N = 467) at a private university in the Philippines. We assessed the role of High Standards and Discrepancy perfectionism on the negative (depression, anxiety, and stress) and positive (satisfaction with life and meaning in life) indicators of mental health. Structural equation modeling demonstrated distinct associations of High Standards and Discrepancy on mental health and well-being outcomes. High Standards positively predicted stress and life satisfaction, and negatively predicted depression, presence of meaning, and search for meaning. High Standards did not have a significant effect on anxiety. Discrepancy positively predicted depression, anxiety, and stress and negatively predicted life satisfaction. Interestingly, presence of meaning was significantly and positively associated with Discrepancy while search for meaning was not. This study contributes to the literature by finding evidence for the distinct influence of Discrepancy and High Standards on several indicators of positive and negative mental health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1492466/fullperfectionismhigh standardsdiscrepancypositive mental healthnegative mental healthFilipino undergraduate students |
| spellingShingle | Patricia D. Simon Patricia D. Simon Maria Guadalupe C. Salanga John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes Frontiers in Psychiatry perfectionism high standards discrepancy positive mental health negative mental health Filipino undergraduate students |
| title | The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes |
| title_full | The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes |
| title_fullStr | The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes |
| title_short | The distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes |
| title_sort | distinct link of perfectionism with positive and negative mental health outcomes |
| topic | perfectionism high standards discrepancy positive mental health negative mental health Filipino undergraduate students |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1492466/full |
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