Picture perfect—how seeking perfection influences sleep and romantic relationships

The Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Multidimensional Perfectionism

Perfectionism is related to insomnia and objective markers of disturbed sleep. This study examined whether multidimensional perfectionism is related to dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, sleep-effort, pre-sleep arousal, and polysomnography-determined markers of sleep among individuals with insomnia. The effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on perfectionism was also examined. This was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial on CBT-I. Forty-three insomnia patients were randomized to treatment (receiving CBT-I) or waitlist control groups. Sleep was recorded using polysomnography at baseline. Participants completed measures of perfectionism, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, sleep-effort and pre-sleep arousal at baseline and posttreatment. Total perfectionism scores and doubts about action, concern over mistakes and personal standards were each significantly related to increased sleep effort, pre-sleep arousal and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep at baseline. Patients receiving treatment displayed increased total perfectionism scores posttreatment d = .49. In those receiving treatment, levels of organization d = .49 and parental expectations d = .47 were significantly increased posttreatment, relative to baseline. In line with the literature, our results confirm that perfectionism is related to insomnia. Here, insomnia was related to increased sleep effort, pre-sleep arousal and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. The propensity to maintain a high standard of order and organization may be elevated following CBT-I, considering the treatment protocol expects patients to strictly adhere to a set of clearly defined rules. Levels of parental expectations may be increased following CBT-I since the patient-therapist-relationship may trigger implicit expectations in patients which are reminiscent of their relationship to their parents.

Multidimensional perfectionism and poor sleep: A meta-analysis of bivariate associations

The link between perfectionism and poor sleep has been intensively debated, and previous studies on perfectionism-sleep associations have yielded mixed results. Recent research suggests that the two-dimensional perfectionism model, differentiating perfectionistic concerns (centered around concerns over imperfections) and perfectionistic strivings (centered around excessively high personal standards), may reconcile previously inconclusive findings, as both dimensions might be differentially related to sleep. Thus, to clarify the perfectionism-sleep link, this meta-analysis investigated relations of perfectionistic concerns and strivings with two well-established self-report measures of poor sleep. A systematic literature search yielded 55 effect sizes from 15 studies (N = 10,275) for inclusion in this meta-analysis. Perfectionistic concerns correlated positively with the Insomnia Severity Index (r⁺ = 0.221, 95% CI [0.102, 0.333], p = .004) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (r⁺ = 0.248, 95% CI [0.172, 0.321], p < .001). Perfectionistic strivings correlated positively, albeit less strongly, with the Insomnia Severity Index (r⁺ = 0.114, 95% CI [0.039, 0.189], p = .010), but not significantly with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (r⁺ = 0.028, 95% CI [-0.026, 0.082], p = .247). These meta-analytic findings indicate that perfectionistic concerns are substantially linked to poor sleep, whereas the relation of perfectionistic strivings with sleep is less evident. Although the identified associations were less robust for perfectionistic strivings than for perfectionistic concerns, previously used labels like "positive" or "adaptive" appear inappropriate for perfectionistic strivings in the context of sleep.

Extending the Study of Gelotophobia, Gelotophilia, and Katagelasticism in Romantic Life Toward Romantic Attachment

Abstract. Gelotophobia (fear of being laughed at), gelotophilia (joy in being laughed at), and katagelasticism (joy in laughing at others) describe individual differences in how people deal with ridicule and being laughed at. We study their association with romantic attachment styles and romantic outcomes in adults. Study 1 ( N = 247) shows that gelotophobia goes along with higher expressions in attachment anxiety and avoidance. This study also provides support for the notion that gelotophobes demonstrate a lower likelihood of entering romantic relationships (odds ratio = 0.62/0.64 for past/current relationship status). Gelotophilia goes along with lower avoidance and katagelasticism exists independently from romantic attachment. Study 2 replicates the findings in 154 heterosexual romantic couples using Actor–Partner Interdependence Model analyses. However, katagelasticism was related to greater attachment anxiety in this sample of couples. A mini-meta analysis using data from both studies ( N = 555) clarified this association and showed that the joy in laughing at others yields a small positive association with attachment anxiety. Further, attachment styles mediate associations between the dispositions and relationship satisfaction in the couples. Overall, the dispositions are distinctively related with romantic attachment styles and our findings contribute to the understanding of the role of dealing with ridicule and laughter in romantic life.