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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Tracy DonachieORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Perfectionistic students may be especially vulnerable to psychological distress due to their cognitive and stress responses. While previous research suggests that rumination mediates the relationship between perfectionism and distress; most studies have relied on cross-sectional designs. The present research aimed to examine the role of mistake rumination in the relationship between trait perfectionism and psychological distress in students. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 (cross-sectional: N = 233, Mage = 24.86, SD = 6.35) examined the relationship between trait perfectionism, mistake rumination and psychological distress; Study 2 (shortitudinal: N = 136, Mage = 25.30, SD = 7.72) assessed whether mistake rumination predicts distress beyond trait perfectionism over a 21-day interval, and whether it mediates this relationship. In both samples, significant positive relationships were found between trait perfectionism, mistake rumination, and psychological distress. In Study 2, hierarchical regression analyses showed that self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) predicted anxiety and stress, and socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) predicted depression and stress, while mistake rumination predicted depression, anxiety, and stress beyond trait perfectionism across time. Bootstrapping analyses showed mistake rumination mediated the effect of SPP on depression and anxiety. The findings suggest mistake rumination is an important factor through which higher levels of SPP can lead to psychological distress.
Author(s): Philpot N, Donachie TC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Personality and Individual Differences
Year: 2025
Volume: 246
Print publication date: 01/11/2025
Online publication date: 21/07/2025
Acceptance date: 04/07/2025
Date deposited: 29/07/2025
ISSN (print): 0191-8869
ISSN (electronic): 1873-3549
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113368
DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2025.113368
Data Access Statement: The authors do not have permission to share data.
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