Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, Vol 56(3), Jul 2024, 205-215; doi:10.1037/cbs0000370
Previous research has demonstrated that interpersonal aspects of perfectionism are related to increased trait social anxiety. The present research examined if trait mindfulness was a mediator of that relationship in students. Participants were undergraduate- (n = 227) and graduate-level (n = 215) students enrolled in Canadian institutions. Students completed a series of measures of perfectionistic self-presentation, trait perfectionism, social interaction anxiety, social phobia, and trait mindfulness. We found a positive association between nondisplay and nondisclosure of imperfections with social interaction anxiety, as well as a positive association between socially prescribed perfectionism and nondisplay of imperfections with social phobia. Level of study did not moderate the associations between components of perfectionism and social anxiety. Trait mindfulness mediated the associations between interpersonal components of perfectionism and two aspects of trait social anxiety (i.e., social interaction anxiety and social phobia). Our results have implications for the understanding of the mechanisms through which interpersonal perfectionism is related to social anxiety. While more research is needed, future interventions could implement mindfulness-based strategies for students experiencing distress from perfectionistic tendencies and social anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)