Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by setting extremely high standards and being overly critical of oneself.
Perfectionists may exhibit behaviors like obsessive attention to detail, difficulty delegating tasks, and procrastination due to fear of failure.
It’s associated with disorders such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In marriages, perfectionism can lead to unrealistic expectations of oneself and one’s partner, increased conflict, reduced intimacy, and lower overall relationship satisfaction as the perfectionist struggles to accept imperfections in themselves, their spouse, and their relationship.
Hadian Hamedani, K., Majzoobi, M. R., & Forstmeier, S. The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Marital Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1456902. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1456902
Key Points
- The primary methods of examining the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes include systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies.
- Perfectionism was found to have a small-to-moderate negative correlation (r = -0.26) with positive marital outcomes.
- Factors like maladaptive perfectionism, dyadic perfectionism, and unrealistic expectations significantly affect marital satisfaction and relationship quality.
- This research has certain limitations such as only including heterosexual couples and having few studies on adaptive perfectionism or dyadic perfectionism specifically.
- Perfectionism is a transdiagnostic variable that can significantly impact both intrapersonal and interpersonal domains, with marital relationships being one of the most important areas affected.
Rationale
Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by setting extremely high standards for oneself and being highly critical of one’s own behavior (Rice & Preusser, 2002).
While some aspects of perfectionism can be adaptive, maladaptive perfectionism has been associated with various negative outcomes, including in interpersonal relationships (Hewitt & Flett, 1991).
Given the importance of marital satisfaction for overall quality of life and mental well-being, understanding how perfectionism impacts marital outcomes is crucial.
Previous research has examined links between perfectionism and relationship variables, but a comprehensive synthesis was lacking.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to consolidate existing findings on the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes to gain a clearer understanding of this association and its implications.
Method
The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.
They searched major scientific databases including APA PsycArticles, PubMed, and Web of Science using specific keywords related to perfectionism and marital/relationship outcomes.
The search was limited to English-language studies published between 1980 and 2023 that investigated perfectionism and marital outcomes in heterosexual couples.
Search strategy and terms: The search formula used was: [(“perfection*”AND (“marital” OR “couple” OR “relationship” OR “close relationship” OR “romantic” OR “marriage” OR “partner” OR “Partnership” OR “husband” OR “wife” OR “spouse” OR “dyad” OR “sexual satisfaction” OR “intimate relationships” OR “romantic idealization” OR “relationship beliefs” OR “interpersonal perception”))]. Searches were conducted from January 2023 to April 2023.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Studies were included if they:
- Were in English
- Were published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal between 1980-2023
- Examined heterosexual couples or those in long-term partnerships
- Investigated the relationship between perfectionism/dyadic perfectionism and marital outcomes
Studies focused solely on same-sex couples were excluded. There were no restrictions on geographical location.
Extraction of Data
The researchers designed a data extraction form to capture key information from each included study:
- Theoretical insights from introductions and discussions
- Author, year, and country of publication
- Study design
- Participant characteristics (sample size, age, gender, relationship status, ethnicity, education level, relationship length)
- Perfectionism measure used
- Marital outcome measure used
- Key outcomes and effect sizes
Statistical measures
A meta-analysis was conducted on 16 of the included studies that provided sufficient data.
Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the effect size of the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes.
Cochran’s Q test and I2 index assessed heterogeneity of effect sizes. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plot, Egger’s regression intercept, and Kendall’s S index.
A random-effects model following Hunter and Schmidt’s approach was used to report the overall effect size.
Results
Study Characteristics:
- 23 studies met inclusion criteria, published between 1999-2022
- 5 from USA, 5 from Iran, 7 from Canada, 2 from Turkey, 1 each from Pakistan, England, Italy, and Malaysia
- 22 had correlational designs, 2 had longitudinal designs
- Participant age range: 19.4-38.9 years
- Relationship duration: <1 year to 26 years
Measures:
- Common perfectionism measures: Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Dyadic Almost Perfect Scale, Almost Perfect Scale-Revised
- Common marital outcome measures: Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale, Relationship Assessment Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale
Key Findings:
- Meta-analysis showed a small-to-moderate negative correlation between perfectionism and positive marital outcomes (r = -0.26)
- Maladaptive perfectionism and dyadic perfectionism were consistently associated with lower marital satisfaction and increased conflict
- Adaptive perfectionism showed some positive associations with marital functioning in a few studies
- Perfectionism was linked to various negative marital outcomes including conflict, burnout, stress, and decreased sexual satisfaction
Mediators and Moderators:
- Negative sexual self-concept mediated sexual perfectionism and marital burnout
- Negative coping styles mediated social perfectionism and marital functioning
- Dyadic conflict mediated perfectionism and depression in relationships
- Relationship duration, education level, and age moderated some associations
Statistical Results:
- Heterogeneity tests: Q = 328.761 (df = 69, p < 0.001), I2 = 90.937
- Publication bias tests showed generally symmetrical distribution of studies
Insight
This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes.
The small-to-moderate negative correlation (r = -0.26) between perfectionism and positive marital outcomes indicates that perfectionism can have a meaningful detrimental impact on relationship quality and satisfaction.
This effect size is notable given the multitude of factors that influence marital outcomes.
The findings highlight important distinctions between adaptive and maladaptive forms of perfectionism.
While maladaptive perfectionism consistently showed negative associations with marital satisfaction and increased conflict, some studies found adaptive perfectionism to be linked to better marital functioning.
This aligns with broader perfectionism research showing differential impacts of perfectionistic strivings versus perfectionistic concerns.
The review also sheds light on the role of dyadic perfectionism – perfectionistic expectations directed at one’s partner.
This emerged as a particularly problematic form of perfectionism in relationships, associated with higher conflict and lower satisfaction. This extends previous work on other-oriented perfectionism to the specific context of intimate partnerships.
Several mediating and moderating variables were identified, providing insight into the mechanisms by which perfectionism impacts relationships.
For instance, the mediating role of negative coping styles suggests perfectionism may lead to maladaptive responses to relationship challenges.
The moderating effects of factors like relationship duration indicate the association between perfectionism and marital outcomes may change over time.
These findings extend previous research by synthesizing results across multiple studies and cultures.
They highlight perfectionism as an important personality factor to consider in understanding relationship dynamics and outcomes.
Future research could further explore protective factors that may buffer against the negative impacts of perfectionism in relationships, as well as potential interventions to address problematic perfectionistic tendencies in couples.
Implications
The results of this study have significant implications for couples, therapists, and researchers in the field of relationships and marital satisfaction.
For couples, awareness of how perfectionism, especially in its maladaptive forms, can negatively impact relationship satisfaction could prompt self-reflection and efforts to develop more realistic expectations.
Therapists working with couples may need to assess for perfectionistic tendencies and address these as part of treatment, particularly when working with couples experiencing conflict or dissatisfaction.
The findings suggest that interventions targeting perfectionism could be beneficial for improving marital outcomes.
Cognitive-behavioral approaches that help individuals challenge unrealistic standards and develop more flexible thinking patterns may be particularly useful.
For instance, Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (ECBT) has shown promise in reducing perfectionism and could be adapted for use with couples.
The differential impacts of adaptive versus maladaptive perfectionism highlight the importance of nuanced approaches.
Rather than broadly targeting all perfectionistic tendencies, interventions could focus on reducing maladaptive perfectionism while potentially harnessing adaptive aspects that may contribute positively to relationships.
The role of dyadic perfectionism emphasizes the need to consider not just individual perfectionism, but how perfectionistic expectations are projected onto partners.
Couple therapies may need to address unrealistic expectations partners hold for each other and foster more accepting, flexible attitudes.
For researchers, this review highlights several areas for further investigation, including the need for more studies on adaptive perfectionism and dyadic perfectionism specifically in marital contexts.
The identified mediating and moderating variables provide direction for more complex models of how perfectionism influences relationships over time.
Strengths
The study had many methodological strengths including:
- Comprehensive search strategy across multiple databases
- Clear inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Use of standardized tools (PRISMA guidelines, AHRQ for bias assessment)
- Independent review by multiple researchers to reduce bias
- Inclusion of studies from diverse cultural contexts
- Meta-analysis to provide quantitative synthesis of effects
- Examination of publication bias
- Consideration of both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism
- Inclusion of dyadic perfectionism as a distinct construct
Limitations
This systematic review and meta-analysis had several limitations:
- Only included studies with heterosexual couples, limiting generalizability to same-sex partnerships
- Most included studies had correlational designs, limiting causal inferences
- Few studies examined adaptive perfectionism or dyadic perfectionism specifically, restricting conclusions about these subtypes
- Potential language bias due to inclusion of only English-language studies
- Variability in how perfectionism and marital outcomes were measured across studies
- Limited longitudinal data to examine how associations may change over time
- Inability to conduct meta-analyses on specific subtypes of perfectionism or individual marital outcome variables due to insufficient comparable data
- Potential for publication bias, though tests suggested this was minimal
These limitations suggest caution in generalizing findings, particularly to non-heterosexual couples or across all cultural contexts.
The predominance of correlational designs also means that while associations between perfectionism and marital outcomes are evident, the direction of causality remains unclear.
Future research addressing these limitations could provide more nuanced and comprehensive insights into the role of perfectionism in marital relationships.
References
Primary reference
Hadian Hamedani, K., Majzoobi, M. R., & Forstmeier, S. The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Marital Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1456902. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1456902
Other references
Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1991). Dimensions of perfectionism in unipolar depression. Journal of abnormal psychology, 100(1), 98.
Rice, K. G., & Preusser, K. J. (2002). The adaptive/maladaptive perfectionism scale. Measurement and evaluation in counseling and development, 34(4), 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2002.12069038
Keep Learning
- How might cultural differences impact the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes? What cultural factors could exacerbate or mitigate the effects of perfectionism on relationships?
- Given the distinction between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, how might therapists work with couples to harness potentially positive aspects of perfectionism while addressing problematic patterns?
- How might the impacts of perfectionism on marital outcomes differ in same-sex couples compared to the heterosexual couples studied here? What unique factors might need to be considered?
- Considering the role of dyadic perfectionism, how might perfectionistic expectations in relationships evolve over time? What factors could contribute to the development or reduction of dyadic perfectionism?
- How might the relationship between perfectionism and marital outcomes be influenced by major life transitions or stressors (e.g., having children, career changes, health issues)? How could this inform interventions for couples during challenging periods?
