Perfect image, depressed mood: Pathways from perfectionistic self-presentation to depressive symptoms through online and in-person connectedness among Canadian adolescents

Abstract

The Perfectionism Social Disconnection Model (PSDM) contends that perfectionism predicts psychopathology via social disconnection and has received support in adult and adolescent samples. However, little is known about the role of online connection. Consequently, this work tested whether online social connection and in-person social support unique mediate the relation between perfectionistic self-presentation and depressive symptoms among adolescents. A community sample of 354 adolescents (Mage = 15.51, SD = 2.07; 68.93% female; 73.44% White) completed surveys assessing these constructs at three timepoints, each spaced approximately 2 months apart. Results supported the PSDM at the between-persons level such that perfectionistic self-presentation was related to depressive symptoms via online social connection and in-person social support. Importantly, these findings both replicate previous work which have predominantly focused on in-person connectedness and extend this body of work by demonstrating that online social connection is a significant mediator over and above the role of in-person social support. However, there was no longitudinal evidence for the PSDM at the within-persons level. Future directions and implications are discussed.