Mediating Effects of Self-Esteem on the Relationship between Perfectionism in Children, and Depression and Anxiety |
Yun Joo Chyung |
Department of Consumer & Child Studies, University of Incheon |
Corresponding Author:
Yun Joo Chyung ,Tel: +82-32-835-8251, Email: ychyung@incheon.ac.kr |
Received: October 4, 2011; Revised: October 6, 2011 Accepted: November 18, 2011. |
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ABSTRACT |
The purpose of this study was to examine: (1) the relationships among two dimensions of children’s perfectionism (both self-oriented and socially prescribed), and levels of depression, anxiety, and self-esteem; (2) whether or not selfesteem mediates the relationship between children’s self-oriented perfectionism, and depression and anxiety; and (3) whether self-esteem mediates the relationship between socially prescribed perfectionism, and depression and anxiety. The participants were 406 fifth and sixth graders. Their data were collected with questionnaires. It was found that there are significant correlations between children’s self-oriented perfectionism, and depression and self-esteem, and there are also significant correlations between children’s socially prescribed perfectionism, and depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. It was also found that self-esteem mediates the relationship between the two dimensions of children’s perfectionism, and depression and anxiety. These results seem to indicate that enhancing healthy selfesteem could lower the risks of experiencing depression and anxiety in children with perfectionistic personality. |
Keywords:
self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, depression, anxiety, self-esteem |
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