A not so perfect plan: An examination of the differential influence of multidimensional perfectionism on missed and gained events during the COVID-19 pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111214Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Self-critical perfectionism (SCP) predicted increased depression over the pandemic.

  • Students higher in SCP overvalued missed events over gained ones.

  • This bias was related to experiencing less autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

  • This bias mediated the relation between SCP and depression during the pandemic.

  • Students higher in SCP did not adapt as easily during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals missed out on important life events, but it was also a chance for some to engage with new interests or values. This research examined how individuals higher in perfectionism experienced missed and gained events during the pandemic, and how their perceptions of these events influenced their mental health. University students (N = 350) were surveyed in September 2020, assessing perfectionism, depression, missed/gained events, and need satisfaction related to these events, and then followed up in December. A combined missed and gained event score was created to better understand overall need satisfaction from these changes. Individuals higher in self-critical perfectionism were more likely to experience need dissatisfaction overall and this partially explained why these individuals experienced more depressive symptoms over time during the pandemic. Conversely, those higher in personal standards perfectionism experienced more need satisfaction overall and this was related to reduced depressive symptoms. Results suggest that individuals higher in self-critical perfectionism were less flexible when things did not go according to their plan. This may be one reason these individuals had a more difficult time coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

Perfectionism
Missed and gained events
Basic psychological needs
Depressive symptoms

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