Perfectionism and Perceived Control in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Danielle S Molnar; Gordon L Flett; Paul L Hewitt

doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00315-y

Perfectionism and Perceived Control in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Int J Ment Health Addict. 2021;19(6):2204-2218. doi: 10.1007/s11469-020-00315-y. Epub 2020 May 26.

Authors

Danielle S Molnar¹, Gordon L Flett², Paul L Hewitt³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1 Canada.
² Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St, North York, ON M3J 1P3 Canada.
³ Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada.

Abstract

In this study, we sought to examine associations between dimensions of trait perfectionism and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among a community sample of adults who experienced at least one traumatic event and determine whether the associations between trait perfectionism dimensions and PTSD symptomatology varied as a function of perceived control. A sample of 161 (57% women; M = 33.24 years, SD = 10.84 years) community adults who experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives completed self-report measures of trait perfectionism, perceived control, personality, and PTSD symptomatology. Results from multiple regression analyses indicated that socially prescribed perfectionism was associated with higher levels of PTSD symptomatology. However, this finding was qualified by a significant interaction with perceived control such that higher levels of socially prescribed perfectionism were associated with greater PTSD symptomatology only under conditions of low perceived control. Findings underscore the importance of individual differences in socially prescribed perfectionism and perceived control for PTSD symptomatology.

Keywords: Perceived control; Perfectionism; Personality; Posttraumatic stress; Trauma.