Perfectionism's Influence on Adolescent Mental Health

Abstract

Examines the relationship between toxic perfectionism and six adolescent mental-health outcomes — anxiety, depression, self-worth, suicidal ideation, video-game addiction, and pornography use — using Foundations longitudinal data. Uses cross-lagged models to assess whether perfectionism precedes or follows these outcomes. Finds perfectionism is a significant predictor of later suicidal ideation across multiple age points, with self-worth as the strongest correlate. Situates findings within Latter-day Saint theological context, arguing that a grace-centered understanding of the gospel reduces toxic perfectionism.

Findings for Latter-day Saints

• Perfectionism's strongest correlation is with self-worth; accepting church community produces the strongest link to self-worth for both Latter-day Saint men and women.
• Discrepancy perfectionism at age 12 nearly doubles the odds of suicidal thoughts at age 14 (OR = 1.86, p < .01); effects persist through age 18.
• Socially prescribed perfectionism at age 16 raises odds of suicidal thoughts at age 18 (OR = 1.48, p < .05).
• Major depressive episodes among adolescent females rose from 13.1% (2004) to 28% (2022); among males from 5% to 11.5% over the same period (national data).
• Utah experienced a 136% increase in suicides among youth ages 10–17 from 2011 to 2015; suicide is now the second leading cause of death nationally for adolescents and young adults since 2017.
• All mental-health outcomes examined (anxiety, depression, self-worth, suicidal ideation, video-game addiction, pornography use) are significantly correlated with both discrepancy and socially prescribed perfectionism.

Limitations in methodology

Sample from Utah, Arizona, and California; Utah suicide trends reflect a geographic population with heavy Latter-day Saint concentration but should not be attributed solely to Latter-day Saint youth. Pornography and video-game measures are self-reported. Some depression and suicide statistics cited from national datasets (not the Foundations sample itself). Causal claims are supported by cross-lagged longitudinal models but cannot be fully established from observational data.

Related studies

• 2024PerfectionismMental Health

  Are Latter-day Saints Perfectionists? Guest Editor's Introduction

  W. Justin Dyer

• 1999Mental HealthDepression

  Religiosity, Mental Health, and the Latter-day Saints

  Daniel K. Judd

Cite this study

Ogletree, M. D. (2024). Perfectionism's Influence on Adolescent Mental Health. BYU Studies Quarterly, 63(4). https://byustudies.byu.edu/issue/63-4

Mark D. Ogletree. "Perfectionism's Influence on Adolescent Mental Health." BYU Studies Quarterly, 63(4), 2024. https://byustudies.byu.edu/issue/63-4.

@article{byu_studies_63_4_perfectionism_adolescent_mental_health,
  title = {Perfectionism's Influence on Adolescent Mental Health},
  author = {Mark D. Ogletree},
  year = {2024},
  journal = {BYU Studies Quarterly, 63(4)},
  url = {https://byustudies.byu.edu/issue/63-4},
}