RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Perfectionism and Daily Coping and Emotion Regulation Processes: A Trial of Two Explanatory Feedback Interventions

This study focuses on university students who tend to be very self-critical and perfectionistic. It aims to understand how perfectionism impacts their daily coping skills and emotional control. Researchers are testing two different online feedback programs: one that teaches students about their coping habits when stressed, and another that helps them understand and improve their emotional regulation, like self-compassion and mindfulness. The goal is to see if these personalized programs can help students feel more in control, reduce feelings of anxiety and sadness, and increase their overall happiness. The study involves tracking daily moods and stress to give tailored advice.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

McGill University

Enrolment target

200

Start

23 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2026

Perfectionism Psychological Well-being University Students

What is this study about?

This research is looking into how being a perfectionist, especially the self-critical kind, can affect how university students feel and cope with daily life. Many young adults today in the UK, Canada, and the US are experiencing more anxiety, sadness, and even thoughts of self-harm, alongside higher levels of self-critical perfectionism. This study is trying to find better ways to help them.

Researchers previously found that a program called PCPM-EFI helped students understand how their daily stress and coping styles led to negative feelings and problems. It gave them personalized feedback, showing their triggers, what kept negative feelings going, and what their strengths were. Students who tried it felt more empowered, better at coping, and reported less sadness and anxiety. Now, the team is building on this success by exploring another program, PERPM-EFI, which focuses on emotion regulation skills like self-compassion and mindfulness.

In this new study, researchers will compare these two programs, both separately and combined, against not getting any feedback. They want to see which approach, or combination, is most effective at improving students' overall well-being. By giving tailored insights into their daily patterns, the hope is that students can learn to better manage their feelings and improve their mental health. If these programs work well, they could potentially be offered to universities, workplaces, and other organisations to support people struggling with perfectionism.

Key takeaways

Targets university students dealing with self-critical perfectionism.
Tests online programs to improve coping and emotional control.
Provides personalised feedback based on daily stress and mood entries.
Aims to reduce anxiety and depression, and increase empowerment.
Potential for widely available mental health support if successful.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for university students between 18 and 65 years old. Both male and female students can take part. To be eligible, you need to score above a certain level on several short questionnaires that measure self-critical perfectionism.

However, there are some reasons why you might not be able to join. You can't participate if you have a current diagnosis of depression or anxiety disorders and are not already receiving mental health care for these conditions. Also, you must be able to complete all the initial surveys and participate in the daily diary entries for seven consecutive days once the study begins.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a university student?
Are you between 18 and 65 years old?
Do you tend to be very self-critical and have high standards for yourself?
Do you *not* currently have an untreated diagnosis of depression or anxiety?
Can you commit to completing daily online entries for seven days?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, your involvement will last for about four weeks. Initially, you'll complete some questionnaires. Then, for seven days, you'll be asked to fill out online daily diaries about your stress, moods, and how you cope. After this, you'll receive your personalised feedback session, which will be delivered online through a video call and will last about 45-60 minutes. Throughout the four weeks, there will be three main check-in points where you'll complete further assessments to see how you're feeling and coping.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer you benefits such as gaining a better understanding of how perfectionism affects your daily life, and learning new coping skills and ways to manage your emotions. This could lead to feeling more empowered and experiencing less sadness and anxiety. As with any research, there's always a chance of feeling some discomfort when discussing personal feelings, but the study aims to be supportive. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your care or your relationship with the researchers.

Locations (1)

McGill University
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'perfectionism' in this study?

It means being very self-critical and having very high standards for yourself, often worrying about making mistakes.

How will I receive the feedback?

You'll get a personalised slideshow presentation online via a video call, delivered by a research assistant.

What kind of daily entries will I need to complete?

You'll answer questions about your stress levels, mood, and how you generally cope each day for seven days.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your responses and personal data will be kept confidential and used only for research purposes.

What is the main goal of this study?

To see if personalised online feedback can help university students manage perfectionism, improve coping, and boost their overall well-being.

How to find out more

David Dunkley, Ph.D.

david.dunkley@mcgill.ca 514.340.8222 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.