title: Developmental Trajectories of Maladaptive Perfectionism in Middle Childhood.
abstract: The developmental trajectories of maladaptive perfectionism, along with their consequences and origins, were examined in middle childhood. A sample of Singaporean children and their parents (N = 302) were recruited for a longitudinal study when the children were 7 years old. Subsequent follow-up assessments were made at ages 8, 9, and 11. A multimethod approach was adopted where parent reports, child reports, and observational data on a dyadic interaction task were obtained. Using latent class growth modeling, four distinct classes were obtained for critical self-oriented perfectionism (SOP-C), whereas two classes emerged for socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP). Children with high and/or increasing SOP-C and SPP trajectories constituted 60% and 78% of the sample, respectively. For both SOP-C and SPP, trajectories with high initial status were associated with higher internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Parental intrusiveness and negative parenting predicted high and/or increasing SOP-C trajectories, whereas the child temperament dimension of surgency predicted high SPP trajectory. Both SOP-C and SPP trajectories tended to co-occur, suggesting a mutually reinforcing process. This study yields important findings that help advance current understanding of the emergence and developmental pathways of maladaptive perfectionism in children.
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Ryan Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Stephanie S M
authors.initials: SSM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Ren Ying
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Chng
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Yuqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Fen-Fang
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: Seok Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D000072639:Perfectionism; D010551:Personality; D013694:Temperament