Perfect Imperfection: Findings Between Friend-Specific Perceived Pressure for Perfection and Self-Reported Anxious Symptoms Among College Students

Abstract

The current study investigates friend-specific perceived pressure for perfection (PPP) and self-reported anxious symptoms among college students. Prior research has suggested an association between PPP, psychopathological disorders, and maladaptive behaviors. For our survey, we utilized a novel PPP scale tailored to young adults and the GAD-7. From that data (N = 63) participants recruited from Santa Barbara City College, the survey found a significant correlation between friend-specific PPP and self-reported anxious symptoms. Following the survey we conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 130) that suggests that PPP may cause anxious symptoms. These findings demonstrate the importance of addressing friend-specific PPP in clinical interventions aimed at reducing anxious symptoms as well as perfectionism research as a whole. Additionally, our survey contributes a novel scale for assessing friend-specific socially prescribed perfectionism for future research.