Perfectionism & Parenting, Not a Good Mix

Scientists at the Association for Psychological Science annual convention reported that pregnant women who feel like they should be ideal mothers display an elevated risk for developing
postpartum depression.

This seems pretty rational considering that most perfectionists who have trouble living up to their often unrealistic expectations may feel down.

Using questionnaires, the studies queried 100 women during the final month of their pregnancies and one month after giving birth about their perfectionism, personality and mental health.

Postpartum depression occurred substantially more often among women who had demanded perfection of themselves while pregnant than among those who had cited few or no signs of perfectionism. This association
held after accounting for pregnant women’s feelings that others demanded
perfection of them and for any depression symptoms that had been
present during pregnancy.

“This is the first evidence that new mothers who need to seem like a perfect parent are at risk for depression,” Dr. Flett said.

In contrast, the scientists have found that perfectionist seniors who develop diabetes for the first time tend to survive longer than their less exacting peers facing the same health predicament.