Naturalistic observation of perfectionistic behaviours

Perfectionism plays an important role across psychopathology. However, there are almost no naturalistic studies that examine the function of perfectionistic behaviours in everyday life. The purpose of this study is to examine predictors, contextual triggers, frequency, and outcomes of 10 proposed perfectionistic behaviours across a 14-day monitoring period in a community sample: Overpreparing, repeating behaviours, excessive reassurance seeking, excessive organizing, excessive perseverance, quitting too soon, procrastinating, refusing to delegate, avoiding situations where standards may be threatened, and attempting to change other people’s behaviour. Correlates and predictors of these behaviours and their related features are discussed in the context of previous research that has examined these behaviours in less naturalistic ways. The findings of the present study have implications for future research regarding behavioural manifestations of perfectionism, and may provide clinicians with important information about perfectionistic behaviours. Additionally, findings using new perfectionism measures provide evidence for their utility with nonclinical samples.

Naturalistic observation of perfectionistic behaviours

Perfectionism plays an important role across psychopathology. However, there are almost no naturalistic studies that examine the function of perfectionistic behaviours in everyday life. The purpose of this study is to examine predictors, contextual triggers, frequency, and outcomes of 10 proposed perfectionistic behaviours across a 14-day monitoring period in a community sample: Overpreparing, repeating behaviours, excessive reassurance seeking, excessive organizing, excessive perseverance, quitting too soon, procrastinating, refusing to delegate, avoiding situations where standards may be threatened, and attempting to change other people’s behaviour. Correlates and predictors of these behaviours and their related features are discussed in the context of previous research that has examined these behaviours in less naturalistic ways. The findings of the present study have implications for future research regarding behavioural manifestations of perfectionism, and may provide clinicians with important information about perfectionistic behaviours. Additionally, findings using new perfectionism measures provide evidence for their utility with nonclinical samples.

NEGATIVE FEEDBACK SEEKING AND EXCESSIVE REASSURANCE SEEKING BEHAVIOR AND DEPRESSION: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW

Introduction: Negative feedback seeking and excessive reassurance seeking behaviors in interpersonal relationships have been shown to frequently occur in conjunction with levels of depression. Method: We used meta-analysis to examine 102 studies (134 effects), relating depression with negative feedback seeking (k = 31) and/or excessive reassurance seeking (k = 103). Results: Depression had positive, moderate effect sizes with both negative feedback seeking (r = .26, 95% CI [.21, .32], p < .001, k = 31) and excessive reassurance seeking (r = .33, 95% CI [.31, .36] p < .001, k = 103). Subgroup analysis revealed the effect size for negative feedback seeking was smaller in romantic relationships compared to other relationship types. Effect sizes for excessive reassurance seeking did not differ for romantic and other relationships but were smaller in romantic relationships of a longer duration. Participant gender and symptom severity did not moderate effect sizes. Studies with child and adolescent samples had larger effects for negative feedback seeking and smaller effects for excessive reassurance seeking, relative to adult samples. Discussion: Longer closer relationships may protect against maladaptive interpersonal behaviors in individuals with depression.

Excessive reassurance seeking mediates relations between rumination and problematic smartphone use

Aside from depression and anxiety, less is known about the relationship of problematic smartphone use (PSU) to other psychopathology- related variables. The authors' aim was to test previously neglected variables in relation to PSU: rumination and excessive reassurance seeking behavior (ERSB). The authors recruited 295 college students for a web-based survey of smartphone use frequency, PSU, depression and anxiety, ruminative thinking, and ERSB. The authors tested linear regression and mediation models, assessing rumination and ERSB as mediating associations between depression/anxiety severity with PSU, adjusting for age, sex, and smartphone use frequency. Results demonstrate that ERSB was significantly related to PSU severity, and ERSB mediated the association between rumination and PSU. Furthermore, the combination of rumination and ERSB mediated relations between both depression and anxiety severity with PSU. Results provide evidence for ERSB as an important variable in understanding relationships between psychopathology symptoms and PSU severity among college students.