Parental Influence on Adolescent Perfectionism by Jenet Jacob Erickson and others

BYU Studies

“Parental Influence on Adolescent Perfectionism” by Jenet Jacob Erickson, Olivia Forsberg, and McKenna Schmidt. Published BYU Studies 63 no. 4 (2024).

Key Points: Parental Influence: Parents' own perfectionism can impact their children, especially through modeling behaviors and psychological control. Fathers' and mothers' perfectionism influences boys and girls differently. Psychological Control: Psychological control, such as withdrawing love and shaming, is strongly linked to the development of toxic perfectionism, particularly in girls. Fathers' psychological control has a significant impact on daughters' perfectionism. Family Dynamics: Family chaos and disengagement are predictors of higher levels of toxic perfectionism in youth. Boys are more affected by family chaos, while girls are more affected by family rigidity. Parenting Styles: Authoritarian parenting combined with psychological control can lead to toxic perfectionism. Authoritative parenting, which balances high standards with warmth and responsiveness, is considered ideal. Cultural Factors: Cultural changes, such as competitive individualism and meritocracy, contribute to the rise in perfectionism among young adults. Recommendations: Parents should focus on creating a supportive and flexible family environment. Emphasizing unconditional love and acceptance can help mitigate the development of toxic perfectionism in children.

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