Perfectionism Dimensions in Children: Association with Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

Although it is known that, childhood and adolescence are the most important periods the development of perfectionism (Flett & Hewitt, 2002). this is almost unknown research area in R. Macedonia. This research aimed to explore the relationship of perfectionism dimensions with anxiety and depression among children. We examined possible differences among four groups of children (children without evident symptoms; children with evident symptoms of anxiety; children with evident symptoms of depression; children with evident symptoms of anxiety and depression) with regard to the level of dimensions of perfectionism (Sensitivity to mistakes; Contingent Self-Esteem; Compulsiveness; Need for admiration). The sample consisted of 468 pupils, aged 11-14, from 5th to 8th grade of primary school, of which 279 were female, and 189 male. The following instruments were used: Adaptive/Maladaptive Perfectionism Scale (Rice & Preusser, 2002), SKAN (Puric, 1992; according to Zaic, 2005) and Children's Depression Inventory (CDI, Kovacs, 1981). The findings suggest the existence of an association of the dimension of the dimension of perfectionism with anxiety and depression. However, this study does not enable conclusions about the causal relationship between these constructs.