Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T18:27:45.726Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using SEM to Examine the Dimensions of Perfectionism and Investigate the Mediating Role of Self-Esteem Between Perfectionism and Depression in China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2012

Bin Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Psychology, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, China
Taisheng Cai*
Affiliation:
Medical Psychological Research Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China
*
address for correspondence: Taisheng Cai, The Medical Psychological Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, P.R. China. Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine the nature of perfectionism, to gain a better understanding of the construct using the Chinese population. The study also explored the relationships between perfectionism, self-esteem and depression after identifying the three dimensions of perfectionism. A sample of 292 Chinese university students completed the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), the Hewitt Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (HMPS), the Almost Perfect Scale — Revised (APS-R), the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). As hypothesised, the confirmatory factor analyses revealed that multidimensional perfectionism is explained as a three-factor construct with dimensions of maladaptive perfectionism, adaptive perfectionism and order factor. As predicted, the structural equation model analyses indicated that self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and depression. Implications for counselling interventions and future research are discussed.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, J.C., & Gerbing, D.W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 411423.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baron, R., & Kenny, D. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable Distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 11731182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 5, 462467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bentler, P.M. (1990). Comparative indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238246.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bentler, P.M., & Bonett, D.G. (1980). Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structures. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 591606.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bergman, A.J., Nyland, J.E., & Burns, L.R. (2007). Correlates with perfectionism and the utility of a dual process model. Personality and Individual Differences, 43, 389399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bieling, P.J., Israeli, A.L., & Antony, M.M. (2004). Is perfectionism good, bad, or both? Examining models of the perfectionism construct. Personality and Individual Differences, 36, 13731385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, S.Y., Guan, Y.Y., Zhang, W., & Li, J.W. (2008). The test and revision of Hewitt multidimensional perfectionism scale for 529 Chinese college students. China Journal of Health Psychology, 16, 823824.Google Scholar
Cheng, S.K., & Lam, D.J. (1997). Relationships among life stress, problem solving, self-esteem, and dysphoria in Hong Kong adolescents: Test of a model. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 16, 343355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dour, H.J., & Theran, S.A. (2011). The interaction between the superhero ideal and maladaptive perfectionism as predictors of unhealthy eating attitudes and body esteem. Body Image, 8, 9396.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Enns, M.W., & Cox, B.J. (2002). The nature and assessment of perfectionism: A critical analysis. In Flett, G.L. & Hewitt, P.L. (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research and treatment (pp. 3362). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flett, G.L., Besser, A., Davis, R.A., & Hewitt, P.L. (2003). Dimensions of perfectionism, unconditional self-acceptance, and depression. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 21, 119138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frost, R.O., Heimberg, R.G., Holt, C.S., Mattia, J.I., & Neubauer, A.L. (1993). A Comparison of two measures of perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 14, 119126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frost, R.O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hewitt, P.L., & Flett, G.L. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 456470.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hollender, M.H. (1965). Perfectionism. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 6, 94103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horney, K. (1950). Neurosis and human growth. NewYork: Norton.Google Scholar
Kempke, S., Van Houdenhove, B., Luyten, P., Goossens, L., Bekaert, P., & Van Wambeke, P. (2011). Unraveling the role of perfectionism in chronic fatigue syndrome: Is there a distinction between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism? Psychiatry Research, 186, 373377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacCallum, R.C., Browne, M.W., & Sugawara, H.M. (1996). Power analysis and determination of sample size in covariance structure modeling. Psychological Methods, 1, 130149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marsh, H.W., Balla, R., & McDonald, R.P. (1988). Goodness-of-fit indices in confirmatory factor analysis: The effect of sample size. Psychological Bulletin, 103, 391410.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mobley, M., Slaney, R.B., & Rice, K.G. (2005). Cultural validity of the almost perfect scale-revised for African American college students. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 52, 629639.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parker, W.D., & Adkins, K.K. (1995). A psychometric examination of the multidimensional perfectionism scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 17, 323334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Preusser, K.J., Rice, K.G., & Ashby, J.S. (1994). The role of self-esteem in mediating the perfectionism-depression connection. Journal of College Student Development, 35, 8893.Google Scholar
Rice, K.G., & Mirzadeh, S.A. (2002). Perfectionism, attachment, and adjustment. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 47, 238250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rice, K.G., Ashby, J.S., & Slaney, R. (1998). Self-esteem as a mediator between perfectionism and depression: A structural equations analysis. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 45, 304314.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shafran, R., & Mansell, W. (2001). Perfectionism and psychopathology: A review of research and treatment. Clinical Psychology Review, 21, 876906.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shek, D.L. (1993). Measurement of pessimism in Chinese adolescents: The Chinese Hopelessness Scale. Social Behavior and Personality, 21, 107120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slade, P.D., & Owens, R.G. (1998). A dual process model of perfectionism based on reinforcement theory. Behavior Modification, 22, 372390.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slaney, R.B., Rice, K.G., & Ashby, J.S. (2002). A programmatic approach to measuring perfectionism: The almost perfect scales. In Flett, G. & Hewitt, P. (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 6388). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slaney, R.B., Rice, K.G., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J.S. (2001). The revised almost perfect scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counselling and Development, 34, 130145.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steiger, J.H. (1990). Structural model evaluation and modification: an interval estimation approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25, 173180.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoeber, J., & Otto, K. (2006). Positive conceptions of perfectionism: Approaches, evidence, challenge. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10, 295319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suddarth, B.H., & Slaney, R.G. (2001). An investigation of the dimensions of perfectionism in college students. Measurement and Evaluation in Counselling and Development, 34, 157165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Terry-Short, L.A., Owens, R.G., Slade, P.D., & Dewey, M.E. (1995). Positive and negative perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 18, 663666.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, K.T., Slaney, R.B., & Rice, K.G. (2007). Perfectionism in Chinese university students from Taiwan: A study of psychological well-being and achievement. Personality and Individual Differences, 42, 12791290.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yang, K.S. (1997). Theories and research in Chinese personality: an indigenous approach. In Kao, H. S. & Sinha, D. (Eds.), Asian perspectives on psychology (pp. 236262). New Delhi, India: Sage.Google Scholar
Yang, L., Liang, B.Y., Zhang, X.G., & Wu, Y.C. (2007). The Chinese version of almost perfect scale-revised. Studies of Psychology and Behavioral, 5, 139144.Google Scholar
Yang, Y., & Wang, D.F. (2007). Retest of the bidimensional model of Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Journal of Chinese Mental Health Psychology, 21, 603609.Google Scholar
Zi, F., & Zhou, X. (2006). The Chinese Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale: An Examination of Its Reliability and Validity. Chinese Clinical Psychology, 14, 560563.Google Scholar