Self-concealment as a mediator in the relationship between perfectionism and psychological distress

The present study examined self-concealment as a possible mediator in the relationship between perfectionism and distress. The study also explored whether willingness to disclose differed depending on whether the disclosure was to a friend, family member, or counselor. One hundred and sixteen undergraduate women were administered the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Self-Concealment Scale, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-21, and the College Issues Questionnaire. Correlational analyses indicated that maladaptive perfectionism, self-concealment, and distress were all highly related. Path analysis indicated that self-concealment mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and distress. Willingness to discuss issues with family and friends was negatively correlated with maladaptive perfectionism and self-concealment, but unrelated to distress. These results indicate that a tendency to conceal negative personal information may be a significant contributor to the psychological distress experienced by those with maladaptive perfectionism.