Research On The Relationship Among Parenting Style,College Students' Perfectionism And Mental Health

ObjectsThe present study aims to revise the positive and negative perfectionism scale, investigate the characteristics of perfectionism in Chinese college students, explore the relationship between parent rearing style and positive perfectionism, construct the structural equation model among parent rearing style, perfectionism and mental health, examine the moderation mechanism of social support and stress in the relation between perfectionism and mental health, and comprehensively understand the influence of perfectionism on mental health. Therefore, we conducted four studies.MethodsIn study1, two samples of558and458undergraduate students completed the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-Chinese Revised (PANPS). A sample of378university students completed measures of Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS), The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Pearson correlation, independent sample t-test, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to revise the PANPS and examine the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of PANPS. In study2, a sample of458university students completed measures of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-Chinese Revised, The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA were used to explore the characteristics of perfectionism in college students, and compare the scores of perfectionism among different demographic information. A depressed group (n=25) and a comparison group (n=32) completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Independent sample t-test was used to compare the scores of perfectionism between two groups. It would provide theoretical basis for the counseling of perfectionism.In study3, a sample of522university students completed measures of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-Chinese Revised (PANPS), Revision of the short-form Egna Minnenav Barndoms Uppfostran (s-EMBU), The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Pearson correlation, exploratory factor analysis, linear regression analyses, path analyses were used to explore the relationship among parent rearing style, perfectionism and mental health. The path model among these variables was constructed.In study4, a sample of426university students completed measures of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-Chinese Revised (PANPS), The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the moderation mechanism of social support and stress in the relation between perfectionism and mental health.ResultsIn study1, it was found that the confirmatory factor analysis of Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-Chinese Revised (PANPS) was adequate to the psychometrics (χ2=662.6, df=272,p=0.000, χ2/df=2.44, GFI=0.90, CFI=0.89, NFI=0.87, NNFI=0.87, RMSEA=0.05). The coefficient alpha for Positive and Negative Perfectionism were0.80and0.84for the total sample. The test-retest reliability was0.81for Positive Perfectionism,0.79for Negative Perfectionism and0.83for the total scale.In study2, it was found that there were not significant differences among gender, single-child or non-single child, grade, home location, nuclear family or extended family in perfectionism. The high positive perfectionism group scored significantly highly than the high negative perfectionism group on depression and anxiety subscales (t=-8.03, t=-7.56,p=0.000). The high positive perfectionism group scored significantly higher than the high negative perfectionism group on positive emotion and life satisfaction subscales (t=6.34, t=7.26,p=0.000). The comparison group scored significantly lower than the depressed group on negative perfectionism subscale (t=-8.67, p=0.000). The comparison group scored significantly lower than the depressed group on the ration of positive to negative perfectionism (t=3.10,p=0.000).In study3, it was found that emotional warmth of parents were positively correlated with positive emotion, life satisfaction, positive perfectionism (r ranged from0.27to0.32, p<0.001), negatively correlated with anxiety, depression, negative perfectionism (r ranged from0.09to0.24, p<0.01). Parental rejection and over protection was negatively correlated with positive emotion, life satisfaction (r ranged from0.07to0.25), was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, negative perfectionism (r ranged from0.23to0.35, p<0.001). Negative perfectionism partially mediated the relation between parent rejection, parent over-protection and depression, anxiety. Positive perfectionism mediated the relation between parent emotional warmth and depression, anxiety. Negative perfectionism partially mediated the relation between father rejection and positive emotion. Negative perfectionism mediated the relation between father rejection and life satisfaction. Positive perfectionism partially mediated the relation between parent emotional warmth and positive emotion, life satisfaction. Positive perfectionism partially mediated the relation between mother rejection and depression, anxiety. Positive perfectionism mediated the relation between mother rejection and positive emotion, life satisfaction. Negative perfectionism mediated the relation between mother rejection and positive emotion, life satisfaction. Negative perfectionism partially mediated the relation between mother over protection and positive emotion, life satisfaction.In study4, social support moderated the relation between positive, negative perfectionism and negative mental health (depression, anxiety)(β=0.134,,β=-0.131,β=0.110,β=-0.169,p<0.05). Stress moderated the relation between negative perfectionism and anxiety (β=0.126,p<0.01). Social support and stress did not moderate the relation between perfectionism and positive mental health indicators (positive emotion, life satisfaction)(p>0.05).Conclusions1. The Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale-Chinese Revised (PANPS) has good reliability and validity. PANPS can be used as an effective instrument for perfectionism research.2. There are not significant differences among different demographic information on PANPS scale. There are significant differences between high positive perfectionism group and high negative perfectionism group on different mental health indicators. There are significant differences between the depressed group and the comparison group on PANPS scale.3. There is close relationship among parent rearing style, perfectionism, and mental health. Perfectionism mediate the relation between parent rearing style and mental health.4. Social support and stress moderate the relation between perfectionism and negative mental health indicators (depression, and anxiety). The lower of the social support is, the higher of the stress is, and the more influence perfectionism has on depression and anxiety.