Perfectionism and Cognitive Factors in Distress and Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents: Introduction to the Special Issue

The current article provides an overview of the papers in this special issue on the role of perfectionism in distress and
dysfunction among children and adolescents. To our knowledge, this is the first special issue that is focused specifically
on the nature and role of perfectionism in maladjustment among children and adolescents. Themes explored in the papers in
this special issue include the relevance of a multidimensional approach when studying perfectionism in children and youth,
the association between perfectionism and indices of dysfunctional cognitive and self-evaluative processes, and the role of
perfectionism in maladaptive coping and self-regulation. Another key theme addressed is the potential usefulness of cognitive-behavioral
interventions for perfectionistic children and adolescents at risk for anxiety and depression. In addition to introducing
the papers in the special issue, we provide an overview of the historical antecedents of past research and theory that highlights
the role of perfectionism in developmental psychopathology. Case studies illustrating dysfunctional perfectionism in children
and adolescents are also provided.