The Link Between Problematic Instagram Use and Body-Image Investment Dimensions: The Mediating Role of Social Comparison on Instagram and the Need to Conceal Body Flaws

Objective

The negative effects of Problematic Instagram Use (PIU) on self-evaluations of one's appearance (i.e., body-image satisfaction-dissatisfaction) are well-known, whereas less explored is its role on body-image investment dimensions. By adopting the Social Comparison and the Self-discrepancies theories as the framework, the present study hypothesized that PIU negatively affects body investment and appearance management behaviours through the serial mediating role of actual appearance comparison on Instagram (IG) and the need to conceal body flaws. Gender, age and trait appearance comparison were controlled for.

Method

A convenience sample of 323 participants (F = 70.3%; M= 28.92 + 10.96) was recruited, and well-known self-report measures were administered online.

Results

The structural model produced good fit indices [χ2/df = 2.36, RMSEA = 0.065 (0.053 - 0.077), CFI = 0.962, SRMR = 0.038], and the variables accounted for 79% and 32% of the variance in body investment and appearance management behaviours, respectively. PIU was associated with body investment both directly and indirectly, whereas it affected appearance management behaviours only via appearance comparison on Ig. The tested alternative model has a poorer fit than the hypothesized model, and the former fitted significantly worse than the proposed one.

Conclusions

The present study represents a step toward a better understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying the link between PIU and body image investment dimensions.

The psychometrics of the Persian version of the perfectionistic self-presentation scale-junior form

INTRODUCTION

The perfectionistic self-presentation scale (PSPS)-junior form is a self-report questionnaire used to measure perfectionistic self-presentation in children and adolescents. It consists of 18 items and 3 subscales, including perfectionistic self-promotion, non-display of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection.

METHODS

The present study aimed to determine the psychometrics of the Persian version of the PSPS. A descriptive study was conducted on 345 samples (269 girls) who responded to the questionnaire.

RESULTS

The findings confirmed the internal consistency and composite reliability (CR) of this scale (CR = 0.744). Further, the Persian PSPS has acceptable face and content validities. Construct and convergent validities were also measured and confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. The correlational analysis of the research variables showed that the PSPS is positively correlated with the Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (0.566) and the children's and adolescents' dysfunctional attitudes scale (0.420).

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results indicated that the Persian version of the PSPS has acceptable psychometrics and can yield accurate results in Iranian samples.

Perfectionistic self-presentation, coping, and affective response during laboratory performance

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The impact of trait perfectionism on coping and affective response has been well-documented in laboratory performances, and yet little is known about the role played by perfectionistic self-presentation in performances beyond the effects of trait perfectionism.

DESIGN

We aimed to address this knowledge gap by examining the relationships between perfectionistic self-presentation, maladaptive emotion-focused coping, and affective response to laboratory problem-solving tasks.

METHODS

A group of 130 undergraduates attempted challenging, time-limited arithmetic and anagram tasks. Upon task completion, participants' scores were announced along with their mistakes. Additionally, participants completed measures assessing their positive and negative affect before and after lab performance, as well as coping strategies utilized during performance.

RESULTS

Participants with elevated perfectionistic self-presentation experienced greater levels of negative affect and maladaptive emotion-focused coping. Moreover, nondisclosure of imperfection emerged as a significant predictor of lowered positive affect from pre- to post-performance after controlling for self-oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism. Path analysis indicated that both nondisplay of imperfection and nondisclosure of imperfection exerted an indirect effect on post-performance negative affect via maladaptive emotion-focused coping.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the unique contribution of perfectionistic self-presentation beyond trait perfectionism in performance settings and suggest a need for future research.

Perfectionism, self-stigma, and coping in students with dyslexia: The central role of perfectionistic self-presentation

Dyslexia is a prevalent condition, and a significant percentage of students in higher education are dyslexic. Despite this, few studies have investigated dyslexia in university students and what personality dispositions may predict how students feel about help-seeking for dyslexia and how they cope with dyslexia. Against this background, the present study investigated perfectionism, self-stigma, and coping in 115 university students with dyslexia, examining the relationships between dispositional perfectionism (self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism) and perfectionistic self-presentation with self-stigma of seeking help and adaptive versus maladaptive coping with dyslexia. Results from regression and mediation analyses showed that perfectionistic self-presentation predicted higher levels of self-stigma and maladaptive coping, and lower levels of adaptive coping. Furthermore, both forms of dispositional perfectionism predicted higher levels of self-stigma and maladaptive coping, and lower levels of adaptive coping, via perfectionistic self-presentation (dispositional perfectionism→perfectionistic self-presentation → self-stigma and coping). The findings suggest that perfectionistic self-presentation plays a central role in the relationships of perfectionism, self-stigma, and coping in students with dyslexia, and that impression management, aimed at presenting a perfect self-image (and hiding imperfections), represents a significant risk for students seeking help for, and successful coping with, dyslexia.

The Role of Perfectionistic Self-Presentation in Pediatric Pain

This study sought to better understand the associations between perfectionistic self-presentation and measures of pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and fatigue in children and adolescents with pain. In the study, 218 adolescents responded to measures of perfectionistic self-presentation (i.e., perfectionistic self-promotion, nondisplay of imperfection and nondisclosure of imperfection), pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and fatigue. Four hierarchical regression analyses and three mediation analyses were conducted. Our results showed that perfectionistic self-promotion was significantly and independently associated with pain intensity and that nondisplay of imperfection was significantly and independently associated with pain catastrophizing, pain interference, and fatigue. Nondisclosure of imperfection was not significantly associated with any criterion variable. Pain catastrophizing mediated the association between both perfectionistic self-presentation and nondisplay imperfection and pain interference but not between nondisclosure of imperfection and pain interference. The findings provide new information about the role of perfectionistic self-presentation in children and adolescents’ experience of pain. These findings, if replicated, support perfectionism as a potential target of pain treatment in young people.

Perfectionistic traits and self-presentation are associated with negative attitudes and concerns about seeking professional psychological help

Numerous factors influence whether an individual is able and willing to seek professional help for psychological difficulties. One of these may be perfectionism, a multidimensional personality construct that has been linked to poor psychological adjustment. The current study investigated whether perfectionism traits and self-presentational facets were associated with negative help-seeking attitudes and concerns about psychotherapy. Samples of university (N = 299) and community (N = 77) men and women completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Help Scale, and Thoughts About Psychotherapy Survey. Various components of perfectionism were associated with both negative help-seeking attitudes and concerns about psychotherapy. The findings suggest that perfectionistic behaviour may be an important dispositional factor that interferes with seeking and obtaining help for psychological difficulties. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.