Abstract
Research has demonstrated an association between perfectionism and depressive and anxious symptoms in children. We examined whether a school-based program targeting anxious and depressive symptoms would reduce perfectionism, and whether perfectionism would interfere with intervention outcomes. The participants were 78 school-age children identified as at-risk for anxiety and/or depression. At-risk children took part in a randomized controlled trial of a school-based intervention program. Levels of perfectionism, depression, and anxiety were assessed at pre-treatment (Time 1) and again at post-treatment (Time 2) after participating in either a cognitive behavioral group or a structured activity group. Participation in either group was associated with significant reductions in overall levels of self-oriented perfectionism, anxious symptoms, and depressive symptoms. Supplementary analyses indicated that pre-treatment self-oriented perfectionism influenced post-treatment depression scores, suggesting that perfectionism interferes with treatment outcome. Perfectionism in children appeared amenable to group-based intervention, and identifying perfectionism may be important for treating children with depressive symptoms.
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Nobel, R., Manassis, K. & Wilansky-Traynor, P. The Role of Perfectionism in Relation to an Intervention to Reduce Anxious and Depressive Symptoms in Children. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 30, 77–90 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-011-0133-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-011-0133-5