Maladaptive perfectionism and basic psychological need frustration as mediators in a relationship between fear of failure measures and generalised anxiety simptoms

Abstract

Research shows that maladaptive perfectionism and especially basic psychological need frustration can be forwarded as transdiagnostical processes in a variety of psychopathological features. Following the reasoning, the present cross-sectional study (N = 92) focused on basic need frustration and maladaptive perfectionism as mediators between fear of failure and generalised anxiety. Results show (1) significant positive correlations between a variety of measures of fear of failure and generalised anxiety symptoms; and (2) maladaptive perfectionism as well as basic need frustration to mediate these relationships. Theoretical and clinical applications are discussed. Furure studies should look into testing the mentioned variables on different populations as well as conducting longitudinal research.