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Perfectionism and Cognitive Factors in Distress and Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents: Introduction to the Special Issue

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Abstract

The current article provides an overview of the papers in this special issue on the role of perfectionism in distress and dysfunction among children and adolescents. To our knowledge, this is the first special issue that is focused specifically on the nature and role of perfectionism in maladjustment among children and adolescents. Themes explored in the papers in this special issue include the relevance of a multidimensional approach when studying perfectionism in children and youth, the association between perfectionism and indices of dysfunctional cognitive and self-evaluative processes, and the role of perfectionism in maladaptive coping and self-regulation. Another key theme addressed is the potential usefulness of cognitive-behavioral interventions for perfectionistic children and adolescents at risk for anxiety and depression. In addition to introducing the papers in the special issue, we provide an overview of the historical antecedents of past research and theory that highlights the role of perfectionism in developmental psychopathology. Case studies illustrating dysfunctional perfectionism in children and adolescents are also provided.

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Acknowledgments

Gordon Flett was supported by a Canada Research Chair in Personality and Health. Preparation of this article was supported in part by research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as well as a ResearchImpact Knowledge Mobilization Grant awarded to the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada

    Gordon L. Flett

  2. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Paul L. Hewitt

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  1. Gordon L. Flett
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  2. Paul L. Hewitt
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Correspondence to Gordon L. Flett.

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Flett, G.L., Hewitt, P.L. Perfectionism and Cognitive Factors in Distress and Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents: Introduction to the Special Issue. J Rat-Emo Cognitive-Behav Ther 30, 53–61 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-011-0134-4

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