Abstract
Cognitive distortions such as dichotomous evaluation of performance, selectively focusing on perceived failures, and discounting
successes are proposed to be key maintaining mechanisms in clinical perfectionism, but no existing research has investigated
the relationship between perfectionism and cognitive errors in children. The current study assessed the associations between
dimensions of perfectionism as assessed by the Adaptive/Maladaptive Perfectionism Scale (AMPS) and children’s cognitive errors
controlling for negative and positive affect to provide information about cognitive features associated with perfectionism
in children and construct-related evidence for the AMPS. A non-clinical sample of 204 children completed the AMPS, the Children’s
Negative Cognitive Errors Questionnaire, and measures of positive and negative affect. The AMPS sensitivity to mistakes scale
was correlated robustly with catastrophizing, overgeneralization, personalizing, and selective abstraction. Cognitive errors
were significant predictors of maladaptive perfectionism even after controlling for negative affect. However, cognitive errors
did not predict adaptive perfectionism after controlling for positive affect. These findings highlight the role of negative
thinking styles in maladaptive perfectionism in children and point to the potential usefulness of interventions that focus
jointly on maladaptive perfectionism and negative cognitive styles.
successes are proposed to be key maintaining mechanisms in clinical perfectionism, but no existing research has investigated
the relationship between perfectionism and cognitive errors in children. The current study assessed the associations between
dimensions of perfectionism as assessed by the Adaptive/Maladaptive Perfectionism Scale (AMPS) and children’s cognitive errors
controlling for negative and positive affect to provide information about cognitive features associated with perfectionism
in children and construct-related evidence for the AMPS. A non-clinical sample of 204 children completed the AMPS, the Children’s
Negative Cognitive Errors Questionnaire, and measures of positive and negative affect. The AMPS sensitivity to mistakes scale
was correlated robustly with catastrophizing, overgeneralization, personalizing, and selective abstraction. Cognitive errors
were significant predictors of maladaptive perfectionism even after controlling for negative affect. However, cognitive errors
did not predict adaptive perfectionism after controlling for positive affect. These findings highlight the role of negative
thinking styles in maladaptive perfectionism in children and point to the potential usefulness of interventions that focus
jointly on maladaptive perfectionism and negative cognitive styles.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10942-011-0129-1
- Authors
- Melissa C. Davis, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
- Nicole L. Wosinski, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
- Journal Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
- Online ISSN 1573-6563
- Print ISSN 0894-9085