Informant reports add incrementally to the understanding of the perfectionism–depression connection: Evidence from a prospective longitudinal study

• Published in: Personality and individual differences 2013-06, Vol.54 (8), p.957-960
• Main Authors: Sherry, Simon B., Nealis, Logan J., Macneil, Matthew A., Stewart, Sherry H., Sherry, Dayna L., Smith, Martin M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Biological and medical sciences; Depression; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Informant; Longitudinal; Medical sciences; Mood disorders; Perfectionism; Personality traits; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Self-criticism
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2013.01.002

► Study included 155 target participants and 588 informants. ► Study involved a 2-wave longitudinal design over 28days. ► Self- and informant reports of perfectionism correlated moderately. ► Self- and informant reports of perfectionism predicted depressive symptoms. Perfectionism is a putative risk factor for depressive symptoms. However, most research in this area uses cross-sectional designs (which fail to address temporal precedence) and mono-source designs (which are influenced by various biases). The present study overcomes these limitations by using a novel design involving both self- and informant reports of self-critical perfectionism (i.e., negative reactions to perceived failures, concern over others’ criticism and expectations, doubts about performance abilities, and intense self-rebuke). It was hypothesized that self- and informant reports of self-critical perfectionism would correlate moderately and that self- and informant reports of self-critical perfectionism would predict increases in depressive symptoms over time. A sample of 155 target participants and 588 informants was recruited and studied using a prospective longitudinal design. All study hypotheses were supported, including evidence that self- and informant reports of self-critical perfectionism each add incrementally to the understanding of the self-critical perfectionism–depressive symptoms connection. Informant reports may provide a more complete picture of the self-critical perfectionist and her or his vulnerability to depressive symptoms.