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Perfectionism in Health and Illness from a Person-Focused, Historical Perspective

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Perfectionism, Health, and Well-Being

Abstract

While research on perfectionism and health has been a key research focus over the past decade, historical accounts that document the vulnerability and susceptibility of perfectionists have been described in the research literature for many decades. In the current chapter, we provide a unique summary and historical overview of early work on perfectionism and health that includes both case study descriptions and a description of the initial empirical research on perfectionism. The role of perfectionism in specific types of illness is discussed, including links established between perfectionism and gastrointestinal illness, migraine headaches, and cardiovascular illnesses. Our review also illustrates several central themes that are the subject of contemporary research. Specifically, we emphasize the mind–body connection and the tendency for distressed perfectionists to have comorbid health problems and psychological problems that require a focus on the whole person. Key themes that are addressed include the roles of stress and exhaustion as contributors to health and mental health problems and how the drive and obsession to be perfect seems antithetical to engaging regularly in self-care and protective health behaviors. The picture that emerges from our overview is that perfectionists are susceptible to health problems and associated problems in psychological well-being, but these vulnerabilities have been evident and described by researchers and health professions across several decades.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Gordon L. Flett PhD

  2. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

    Paul L. Hewitt PhD

  3. Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Danielle S. Molnar PhD

  4. Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada

    Danielle S. Molnar PhD

Authors
  1. Gordon L. Flett PhD
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  2. Paul L. Hewitt PhD
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  3. Danielle S. Molnar PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gordon L. Flett PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Fuschia M. Sirois

  2. University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Research Institute on Addictions, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Danielle S. Molnar

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Flett, G., Hewitt, P., Molnar, D. (2016). Perfectionism in Health and Illness from a Person-Focused, Historical Perspective. In: Sirois, F., Molnar, D. (eds) Perfectionism, Health, and Well-Being. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18582-8_2

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