Self-esteem as a mediator between perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Nonclinical volunteers (N = 219) were recruited to examine the associations between perfectionism, obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, and self-esteem. Based on cognitive-behavioral theory (McFall & Wollersheim, 1979) and other research findings (Pence & Rice, 2002), it was expected that perfectionistic discrepancy (a defining maladaptive aspect of perfectionism) would be positively associated with OC symptoms, and negatively related to self-esteem. In addition, it was also expected that excessive concerns about making mistakes (also a defining maladaptive aspect of perfectionism) would be positively related to OC symptoms, and inversely associated with self-esteem. The results supported these expectations. These results add to the growing body of literature linking perfectionism and OC symptoms. A model was also tested in which self-esteem was expected to mediate the relationship between excessive concerns about making mistakes and OC symptoms. A second model was tested in which self-esteem was expected to mediate the relationship between perfectionistic discrepancy and OC symptoms. Analyses did not support self-esteem as mediator of perfectionism and OC symptoms in either model. These findings do not support the McFall and Wollersheim (1979) model or their assertion that it is important to directly target self-esteem as part of an overall cognitive-behavioral approach to managing OC difficulties. These and other implications are discussed with regard to theory and future research.