This master's thesis deals with the problems with perfectionism in relation to parental bonds during a child's upbringing and the later occurence of anxiety and depression. The theoretical part therefore includes an overview of the field of perfectionism in relation to parenting, anxiety and depression. First of all, the problems of defining perfectionism from different perspectives are covered, and then the possible differences in brain structure, gender and age regarding to the presence of perfectionism. Different factors that need to be acknowledged in the development of perfectionism are also presented, with emphasis on parenting. This will be followed by an analysis on perfectionism in relation to an individual's experience in their primary family and the later occurence of anxiety and depression.
Within the empirical work, a study is presented, the main purpose of which was to investigate the correlation between perfectionism, the individual's perception of their relationship with their parents in adolescence, and the later onset of anxiety and depression. We were also interested in gender and age differences in relation to their relationship with their parents. 454 people participated in the survey, who, in addition to general questions, answered three questionnaires (Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Parental bonding instrument and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales). The results showed that unadapted perfectionism is correlated with a lack of loving care and over-protective behavior by parents, and with anxiety and depression. It has also been shown that adapted perfectionism is also correlated with anxiety and depression, while the latter is statistically irrelevant to the care or protection of parents. However, age differences in the realm of adapted perfectionism have shown that individuals in late adolescence are more perfectionistic compared to middle or late adulthood.
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