Self-critical perfectionism, experiential avoidance, and depressive and anxious symptoms over two years: A three-wave longitudinal study

This three-wave longitudinal study examined the relations among perfectionism, experiential avoidance, and depressive and anxious symptoms over two years. Community adults (N = 173) completed self-report questionnaires assessing two higher-order perfectionism dimensions (self-critical [SC], personal standards [PS]), neuroticism, experiential avoidance, and depressive and anxious symptoms at Time 1, Time 2 one year later, and Time 3 two years later. Cross-lagged path analyses demonstrated that SC perfectionism predicted increases in experiential avoidance from Time 1 to Time 2 and again from Time 2 to Time 3. Experiential avoidance predicted increases in both depressive and anxious symptoms from Time 1 to Time 2 and again from Time 2 to Time 3. Time 2 experiential avoidance mediated the relation between Time 1 SC perfectionism and both depressive and anxious symptoms over two years, controlling for the effects of Time 1 neuroticism and prior symptom levels. Experiential avoidance did not mediate the relations between PS perfectionism and depressive/anxious symptoms over two years. These findings highlight the importance of targeting experiential avoidance in reducing vulnerability to depressive and anxious symptoms over the long-term in individuals with higher SC perfectionism.