Perfectionism, Attachment and Anxiety and Depression

Fitzsimons, Kirsty (2011) Perfectionism, Attachment and Anxiety and Depression. University of Salford.

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Abstract

Previous research has indicated that there is an association between the discrepancy domain of perfectionism and anxiety and depression (Flett et al. 2007; Kawamura et al. 2001); with little research investigating the link’s underpinnings. Of the research that has been conducted into the origins of perfectionism, results suggest that perfectionism is rooted in childhood experience (Enns et al. 2002) and that attachment style may be influential (Rice & Mirzadeh 2000). Therefore, an independent groups design was employed to investigate whether attachment style could predict the discrepancy domain of perfectionism and whether this domain was related to anxiety and depression. 41 undergraduate students completed copies of the HAD scale (Zigmond & Snaith 1983), the Adult Attachment scale (Collins & Read 1990) and the Almost Perfect Scale (Slaney et al. 2001). Results were analysed using linear regression analysis, finding that insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant) significantly predicted scores in the discrepancy domain of perfectionism and that this domain had a significant relationship with anxiety and depression scores.