Moderating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationships Between the Three Forms of Perfectionism with Anger, Aggression, and Hostility

Abbas Abdollahi; Zhanna R Gardanova; Pushpamala Ramaiah; Anna Gustina Zainal; Walid Kamal Abdelbasset; Gordon J G Asmundson; Supat Chupradit; Shokhrukh Kh Sultonov; Olga V Pashanova; A Heri Iswanto

doi:10.1177/00332941221087911

Moderating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationships Between the Three Forms of Perfectionism with Anger, Aggression, and Hostility

Psychol Rep. 2023 Oct;126(5):2383-2402. doi: 10.1177/00332941221087911. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Iran.
² Department of Psychotherapy, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Russia.
³ Faculty of Nursing, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Communication, University of Lampung, Indonesia.
⁵ Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.
⁷ Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
⁸ Department of Therapeutic Disciplines No. 3, Tashkent State Dental Institute, Uzbekistan.
⁹ Department of Organization and Economics of Pharmacy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Russia.
¹⁰ Public Health Department, Faculty of Health Science, University of Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta, Indonesia.

PMID: 35410529
DOI: 10.1177/00332941221087911

Abstract

The prevalence of aggression in adolescents is on the rise, and it could be a serious public health concern. Studies have found positive relationships between perfectionism with anger, aggression, and hostility. However, the moderating role of self-compassion in the links between perfectionism with anger, aggression, and hostility has not been studied. To better understand the relationships between the three forms of perfectionism with anger, aggression, and hostility, this study aimed to explore the moderating role of self-compassion. Participants were 380 undergraduates selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique from three universities in Iran. Participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale, the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Aggression Questionnaire Scale. The results from structural equation modelling analysis showed that other-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism positively predicted anger, aggression, and hostility. The results showed that self-oriented perfectionism significantly and positively predicted anger and hostility; but there were no observed statistically significant relationships of self-oriented perfectionism with verbal aggression and physical aggression. The findings showed that self-compassion played a moderating role in the relationships between other-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism with anger, aggression, and hostility; however, it did not play a moderating effect on self-oriented perfectionism with anger, aggression, and hostility. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the moderating role of self-compassion in the links between other-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism with anger, aggression, and hostility among undergraduates. The findings of this study could be applicable for psychologists and counselors who deal with aggressive behavior, anger, and hostility in undergraduate students to assess the three forms of perfectionism and self-compassion.

Keywords: moderation; other-oriented perfectionism; self-compassion; self-oriented perfectionism; socially prescribed perfectionism; undergraduates.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Aggression
Anger
Hostility*
Humans
Perfectionism*
Self-Compassion