title: The relationship between perfectionism and engagement in preventive health behaviours: the mediating role of self-concealment.
abstract: If perfectionists avoid engaging in preventive health behaviours, they may be putting their long-term health and well-being at risk. Correlational analyses based on a sample of 370 university students identified maladaptive perfectionism to be associated with decreased levels of engagement in preventive health behaviours, life satisfaction and well-being and increased levels of self-concealment and psychological distress. Adaptive perfectionism was associated with higher levels of engagement in preventive health behaviours. Self-concealment was identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and both engagement in preventive health behaviours and psychological distress. Implications of the findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Surrey, UK c.j.williams@surrey.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Charlotte J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cropley
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: maladaptive and adaptive perfectionism; preventive health behaviours; self-concealment