Summary: While theres nothing wrong with having high personal standards, perfectionists often feel as though their achievements and successes are never good enough. Perfectionism increases the risk of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and several other mental health disorders.

Source: Particle

WA researchers aim to help teen girls feel better in their bodies with an online program targeting perfectionism, which has been linked to depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

TheOvercoming Perfectionismstudy uses cognitive behavior therapy to challengeperfectionistic thinking.

This way of thinking is aknown risk factorfor depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Australians are experiencing deteriorating mental health since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers hope the free online program can helpteenage girlsimprove their state of mind and well-being.

The problem with perfectionism

Clinical psychologist and Curtin University Ph.D. student Amy OBrien is leading the research.

She says theres nothing wrong with havinghigh standardsand being driven to succeed.

But perfectionism can make us feel like were never good enough regardless of how high we score on a test or how well we perform on the sporting field. Thats unhelpful and takes a toll on our self-esteem.

Were not trying to lower peoples standards or stop them from achieving great things, says Amy.

We just want them to have self-esteem that comes from other places, not just based on whether they achieve good results or not.

The shadow pandemic

Mental illness symptoms have increased across the board since the start of the pandemic.

The World Health Organization estimates COVID-19 triggered a25% increase in anxiety and depressionwith young people and women bearing the brunt.

InsideOut, Australias national research institute for eating disorders,foundeating disorder symptoms increased significantly during the first wave of the pandemic. This was coupled with difficulty accessing treatment.

Amy says relationships are key in our livesparticularly for teenagers.

Its a really important developmental step when they differentiate from their family and they start to rely on their peer groups as big influences, she says.

So the fact that weve all been driven online I think definitely is playing into things.

Instagram versus reality

We know that eating disorders have existed long before TV and the internet, says Amy.

But certainly I think the number of images that were exposed to online and all the filters and the photoshopping is warping, maybe, our perspective of normal.

Onsocial media, were constantly comparing ourselves to other peoples best moments.

Thats really going to make ourself-esteemtake a dip, particularly if were prone to having perfectionistic standards for ourselves, says Amy.

Cutting through inequality

When it comes to treating anxiety and depression, online programs can bealmost as effectiveas face-to-face services.

Amy believes this is the first online program to treat perfectionism in people at risk of eating disorders.

She says online treatments can cut through inequality in accessingmental healthservices, particularly for people living in rural or remote communities.

Thereal-world applicationsreally excite me, says Amy.

If we can get good evidence that shows this is effective, then its one more resource for the people who might struggle to access help.

Amy is currently recruiting participants for the Overcoming Perfectionism study. To find out more, visitwww.youthperfectionism.org.

Author: Michelle WheelerSource: ParticleContact: Michelle Wheeler ParticleImage: The image is in the public domain

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The Perils of Perfectionism - Neuroscience News