Date of Submission
2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
Department Chair
Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP
First Advisor
Leslie Fernandez, PsyD
Second Advisor
Susan Panichelli Mindel, PhD
Third Advisor
Maria Alonso, PhD
Abstract
Attachment security impacts social competence and the development of one’s sense of self. It has also been implicated in the development of psychological conditions, including depression, personality disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Perfectionism has distinct characteristics that also influence how people relate to others and understand themselves. Research suggests that perfectionism negatively affects a person’s psychological well-being, often leading to mental health concerns such as anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite the introduction of the perfectionism social disconnection model (PSDM), few studies have attempted to understand the direct relationship between attachment security, perfectionism, and psychological well-being. It was hypothesized that attachment security and perfectionism would be correlated. It was also hypothesized that the linear combination of attachment security and perfectionism would predict psychological well-being. The hypotheses were partially supported; self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) and socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) were correlated with attachment security, and only the combination of SPP and attachment security predicted psychological well-being. The results of this study may provide further insight into how the perceived societal expectation of perfection and one’s sense of social connection may impact one’s mental health.
Recommended Citation
Cleary, Lindsay, "Evaluating the Predictive Values of Attachment Security and Perfectionism on Psychological Well-being" (2025). PCOM Psychology Dissertations. 691.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/psychology_dissertations/691