Maladaptive perfectionistic self-representations: The mediational link between psychological control and adjustment

This study examined the role of maladaptive perfectionism in the relation between perceived parental psychological control and both self-esteem and depression. In line with our hypotheses, evidence was found for the mediating role of maladaptive perfectionism. In addition, we examined the unique contribution of psychological control in predicting severity of depression, self-esteem and maladaptive perfectionism in comparison to other parenting style dimensions and parents’ own maladaptive perfectionism. Although results showed significant convergence between mothers’ and daughters’ maladaptive perfectionism, psychological control was found to predict daughters’ perfectionism in addition to their mothers’ perfectionism. Finally, psychological control predicted severity of depression, self-esteem and maladaptive perfectionism in addition to other parenting dimensions (i.e., responsiveness and behavioral control). These findings suggest that the hypothesized pathway of parental representations over maladaptive perfectionistic self-representations to adjustment may apply specifically to the influence of psychological control.