PERFECTIONISM, SOCIAL PROBLEM-SOLVING $,RILITY, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

ABSTRACT: The present research examined the relation between dimensions of perfectionism and self-appraised problem-solving behaviors and attitudes. Specifically, in two separate studies, we tested the hypothesis that socially prescribed perfectionism (i.e., the perception that others demand perfection from the self) is associated with poorer social problem-solving ability. In addi-tion, measures of psychological djustment were included in Study 2 so that we could (1) examine whether socially prescribed perfectionism and poorer problem-solving ability were still associated after removing variance associ-ated w i th psychological distress; and (2) compare depression and anxiety in terms o f their respective associations with social problem-solving ability. Cor-relational analyses of the data from both studies confirmed that social ly pre