Perfectionism Cognitions and Depressive Symptoms in Filipino Undergraduate Students: Conditional Indirect Effects of Brooding and Components of Self-Compassion

Date of Award

8-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology

First Advisor

Lourdes Joy T. Galvez Tan, PhD

Abstract

Perfectionistic undergraduate students are particularly at risk for the development of depressive symptoms. Past research suggests that self-compassion and its components may buffer this risk. This study was conducted to examine mechanisms behind the latter's beneficial effects by testing models with automatic thoughts about perfectionism (perfectionism cognitions) as predictor, depressive symptoms as outcome and brooding as mediator of the relationship. Self-compassion and its corresponding subscales related to compassionate self-responding (Self- Kindness, Common Humanity, and Mindfulness) were also tested as moderators of the indirect effect. Two hundred sixty Filipino undergraduate students completed the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (PCI); the Brooding subscale of the Ruminative Response Scale – Short Form (RRS-SF); the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D); and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Perfectionism cognitions and depressive symptoms were significantly positively correlated (r = .55, p = .009), and this relationship was mediated by brooding (B = 0.19, 95% C.I. [0.13 - 0.26]). The total SCS score and the Self-Kindness and Mindfulness subscales did not moderate any of the paths of the indirect effect, but Common Humanity moderated the path between brooding and depressive symptoms (B = -.42, p = .03). The findings underscore the importance of perseverative cognitions in the study of perfectionism. It also suggests further research on perfectionism and relationship to specific components of self-compassion rather than just the global construct, as well as the impact of self-compassion interventions in supporting perfectionistic undergraduate students with their mental health. Keywords: depression, maladaptive cognitions, brooding, self-compassion

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