Self-esteem mediates the relationship between perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

Perfectionism is considered an important personality trait in the development and maintenance of many psychological disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression (which often co-occur). Different aspects of perfectionism are distinguished. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms have especially been associated with perfectionistic concerns. Mediating factors of the association between OCD and perfectionistic concerns have not been explored. In depression, there is tentative evidence that the connection between perfectionistic concerns and depressive symptoms is mediated by self-esteem. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between perfectionistic concerns and clinical perfectionism, self-esteem, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Seventy patients with OCD and 35 nonclinical controls were included in a cross-sectional study. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, perfectionistic concerns as well as clinical perfectionism, and self-esteem were assessed and included in the mediation analyses. Patients with OCD showed higher perfectionism than nonclinical controls. Self-esteem mediated the relationship between perfectionistic concerns as well as clinical perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the patients. However, interpretations of the data are limited by the cross-sectional design of the study.