The association between the personality traits self-esteem and perfectionism with psychopathology and the possible mediation of psychological inflexibility.

Abstract

Goal: The transition phase from adolescence to young adulthood is often accompanied by various developmental changes, which can give rise to mental health problems. Problems with self-esteem and perfectionism are hereby linked to various forms of psychopathology. It is investigated whether a possible underlying mechanism, such as psychological inflexibility, can further explain these relationships. This study aims to see whether this psychological inflexibility is associated with the relationship of self-esteem and perfectionism with psychopathology. Methods: Participants were recruited from involved mental health institutions (N=53, clinical) and from the general Dutch population (N=339, non-clinical). To measure self-esteem, perfectionism, psychological inflexibility and psychopathology, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Acceptance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth and the Youth Self Report were used. The data was examined using ANOVA, correlation analyses and mediation analyses via PROCESS. Results: In both groups, self-esteem, perfectionism, and psychological inflexibility were correlated with psychopathology and significant differences were found between the groups for each variable. Psychological inflexibility provided partial mediation in the relationship between self-esteem and perfectionism with psychopathology in both groups. Perfectionism in the clinical group was completely mediated by psychological inflexibility. Conclusion: Studying psychological inflexibility is important for both young adults with and without psychological problems to eventually help reduce psychopathology. An intervention that can be used for this purpose is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).