Interpersonal perfectionism, attributions, expectations, and social disconnection in daily life: an extension of the social disconnection model

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kelly L. Harper (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Kari Eddington

Abstract: There is extensive research supporting the social disconnection model, which is a model linking interpersonal perfectionism (i.e., perceiving others have excessively high standards for oneself) with suicidal behavior through subjective or objective social disconnection. However, research has not examined cognitive factors related to hopelessness that may play an important role in explaining how perfectionists think about their social relationships. The current study extended research on the perfectionism social disconnection model by including these cognitive factors, such as negative attributions about social events and expectations for future social interactions. Additionally, the current study examined these factors in daily life. The primary aim was to examine how attributions about specific negative social events and expectations about future social events, relate to socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP), daily subjective disconnection, and daily mood. The current study used experience sampling methodology (ESM) with 145 participants to test a two-level path model examining whether attributions and expectations explain the relation between SPP and loneliness at the following time point. Results indicate that attributions and expectations did not predict loneliness at the following time point. However, post-hoc analyses revealed that across models, SPP was positively associated with loneliness and expectations, which were also related to each other at the same time point. Although the causal direction of the association between social expectations and loneliness is unclear, treatment targeting expectations about future social interactions and loneliness may decrease feelings of disconnection for perfectionists.

Additional Information

Publication
Dissertation
Language: English
Date: 2019
Keywords
Experience sampling methodology, Loneliness, Perfectionism, Social disconnection
Subjects
Perfectionism (Personality trait)
Interpersonal relations $x Psychological aspects
Social interaction $x Psychological aspects

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