Keutler, M., & McHugh, L. (2022). Self-compassion buffers the effects of perfectionistic self-presentation on social media on wellbeing. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 23, 53-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.11.006
About 30% of undergraduate students are perfectionists. Striving for perfection is associated with psychological maladjustment. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between perfectionism measured by perfectionistic self-presentation on social media, self-compassion, psychological flexibility and wellbeing. It was predicted that self-compassion and psychological flexibility have significant multiple mediating effects on the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation on social media and subjective wellbeing, with higher levels of perfectionistic self-presentation on social media related to lower levels of self-compassion and lower levels of psychological flexibility related to lower levels of wellbeing. Psychological flexibility was not found as a significant mediator of perfectionistic self-presentation on social media and wellbeing. However, self-compassion was found as a significant mediator of perfectionistic self-presentation on social media and wellbeing, indicating that self-compassion may buffer the effects perfectionistic self-presentation on social media has on wellbeing. Therefore, cultivating self-compassion may be a useful process of change to target for the treatment and prevention of perfectionistic self-presentation on social media. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
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