Prospective association between perfectionism and depressive symptoms in high school adolescents: Analysis of the mediating role of academic self‐efficacy

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Campeau G, Yale-Souliere G, Goulet J, *Berniqué K, Turgeon L, Ryan N. (2025). Prospective association between perfectionism and depressive symptoms in high school adolescents: Analysis of the mediating role of academic self‐efficacy. Psychology in the Schools. 62 : 4236-4250.

Résumé

Depression is still not fully understood when it comes to its risk factors. The association with perfectionism is increasingly under scrutiny. Moreover, this link could be elucidated by intermediary variables. This contributes to the fact that the risk factors for depression are not yet fully understood. This study sought to address this gap by examining the role of academic self-efficacy as a potential mediator of the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses were conducted using data collected at three time-points among 527 high school students (72.9% girls) aged 14–17 years (mean age = 14.9 years, SD = 0.91). Findings suggest that after controlling for baseline levels of depressive symptoms and academic self-efficacy, there were no prospective associations between perfectionism and depressive symptoms. However, certain findings emerging from this study highlight the role of academic self-efficacy in perfectionism. These results stress the need for methodological considerations such as controlling for baseline levels of the dependent variables, as well as the need for prevention or early intervention aimed at reducing the onset or continuation of subsequent mental health issues.

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