Highly self-critical perfectionists benefit from self-compassion

Highly self-critical perfectionists benefit from self-compassion


Sometimes, you just have to give yourself a break. Humans are imperfect beings, after all, and we all make mistakes. But for the perfectionists among us, any acceptance of error can be a bitter pill. These people face a higher risk of depression, according to previous research.

Now Australian researchers have published a study suggesting a little self-compassion for the most self-critical idealists may prevent them from being pulled into a whirlpool of misery.

To be sure, perfectionism itself isn’t necessarily bad. But researchers focused on maladaptive perfectionism, meaning people who are so hard on themselves they actually fear making mistakes while being overly anxious about how others perceive them.

The researchers provided questionnaires to more than a 1,000 adults and adolescents to unearth their perfectionist tendencies, depression and self-compassion.

Among both adults and adolescents, the scientists identified a strong association between maladaptive perfectionism and depression.

But the study said those who were kinder to themselves, who took a more nonjudgmental attitude to their own inadequacies and failures, had essentially severed the link between perfectionism and depression.

The researchers, whose findings were published in the online journal PLoS ONE, said these self-compassionate individuals “recognize that imperfections, faults and difficulties in life are universal.”

This work isn’t just about mental well-being. Depression has been linked to higher risks of numerous health problems, from heart disease and obesity to osteoporosis.

So, give yourself a break. After all, to err is human.

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