Reducing the onset of negative affect in adolescents: evaluation of a perfectionism program in a universal prevention setting.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the current study was to evaluate a prevention program targeting unhelpful perfectionism and self-compassion, designed to prevent growth of negative affect (NA).


METHODS
Four schools participated in the research, where grade levels were allocated to either the intervention ("Healthy Minds") or the control condition (N = 688 individuals; mean age 14.90 years), and assessments occurred at baseline, post-intervention, and 6- and 12-month follow-up.


RESULTS
There were no significant between group differences at post-intervention but at 6-month follow-up the intervention group had significantly lower unhelpful perfectionism, self-criticism and NA than the controls. Only significant between-group differences in unhelpful perfectionism were retained at 12-month follow-up (Cohen's d = .24). Examination of the sub-group lower in NA at baseline showed the intervention group was significantly less likely to have elevated NA at 6-month follow-up than controls, indicating a prevention effect.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects obtained in the current study provide support for the utility of a perfectionism intervention for reducing transdiagnostic outcomes, including unhelpful perfectionism, self-judgment, and NA, and preventing the growth of NA. Ways of producing longer terms effects for NA need to be further investigated, as does the impact of the intervention on different types of psychopathology.


BACKGROUND
ACTRN12614000650695.
School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Electronic address: tomnehmy@gmail.com.
Thomas J
TJ
Nehmy
School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
Tracey D
TD
Wade
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D012649:Self Concept; D013021:South Australia; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Adolescence; Anxiety; Depression; Prevention; Transdiagnostic