Evaluative concerns perfectionism: Perfectionism cognitions and neuroticism

The current study addressed two major questions. First, the relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism and coping strategies and positive and negative affect was explored; whether perfectionism cognitions mediate these relationships was also addressed. The second question assessed whether evaluative concerns perfectionism added to the prediction of emotional reactivity and negative affect when controlling for neuroticism. It was expected that perfectionism cognitions (a type of automatic thought process) would mediate the relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism and coping strategies (in particular, distraction and emotion expression) and negative affect. It was also expected that evaluative concerns perfectionism would significantly predict perfectionism cognitions when controlling for neuroticism.; One hundred twenty-one male and female participants were drawn from a mid-sized private university, and completed initial measures of perfectionism and neuroticism. Using a web-based survey, participants then completed twice daily assessments of perfectionism cognitions, coping, and positive and negative affect. Evaluative concerns perfectionism was found to be related to seeking reassurance, emotion expression, distraction, and negative affect. Further, perfectionism cognitions were found to mediate the relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism and seeking reassurance, and evaluative concerns perfectionism and emotion expression. Perfectionism cognitions also partially mediated the relationship between evaluative concerns perfectionism and negative affect. However, evaluative concerns perfectionism, but not perfectionism cognitions, had a direct effect on the use of distraction. Evaluative concerns perfectionism and neuroticism were not significantly related to emotional reactivity; however, evaluative concerns perfectionism continued to have a direct impact on negative affect when controlling for neuroticism. The present study provides support for the incremental predictive validity of evaluative concerns perfectionism above neuroticism, and provides evidence for perfectionism cognitions as a mediator of daily stress and coping.