Date of Award

Fall 2026

Thesis Type

Open Access

Degree Name

Honors Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Sponsor

Dr. Andrew Luchner

Committee Member

Dr. Stacey Dunn

Committee Member

Dr. Alice Davidson

Abstract

Research suggests that perfectionism has a negative impact on self-compassion, which is a transdiagnostic predictor of well-being. Mechanisms of awareness, such as psychological flexibility and reflective functioning, have been found to remediate the maladaptive outcomes of perfectionism. There are no existing models to date that collectively evaluate awareness mechanisms, perfectionism, and self-compassion. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that psychological flexibility, psychological inflexibility, and reflective functioning would mediate the relationship between perfectionism and self-compassion. A total of 267 adults (146 women, Ages: M = 42.46 yrs, SD = 12.90) completed an online survey that included the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory, The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, and the Self-Compassion Scale. A parallel mediation analysis revealed that, for perfectionistic individuals, psychological flexibility acts as a protective factor of self-compassion, whereas psychological inflexibility acts as a vulnerability factor. Unexpectedly, reflective functioning did not exhibit a significant indirect effect on global self-compassion. However, when self-compassion was bifurcated, exploratory analyses indicated that adaptive self-compassion was uniquely mediated by psychological flexibility, whereas maladaptive self-compassion was influenced by all three mechanisms of awareness. Taken together, these results indicate that mechanisms of awareness should be a key focus of therapeutic interventions for perfectionism. Particularly for those who are self-critical, treatments should address both fostering awareness and mitigating maladaptive mechanisms that maintain unattainable standards, rigidity, and psychopathological outcomes.

Rights Holder

Ella M. Juengst

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Available for download on Tuesday, October 26, 2027

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