Striving for perfection is a good trait in that it compels individuals to do their best. However, perfectionism can have its downside if it creates intense pressure that adversely affects an individual’s psychological well-being. These two sides of the perfectionist coin are most readily apparent to millennials, who are more predisposed to perfectionism than previous generations. According to a study of 41,641 college students from the United States, Canada, and the U.K., researchers found that the average score for self-oriented perfectionism rose by 10%, and it increased for socially prescribed perfectionism by as much as 32% between 1989 and 2016. As millennials display increasingly unrealistic educational and professional expectations for themselves, their rates of depression, suicide, and anxiety rise.
Today’s young people are competing to meet societal pressures to succeed, and they feel that perfectionism is necessary in order to feel safe, socially connected and of worth. This intense desire to succeed can take a toll on mental health. Plains Area Mental Health Center has compassionate therapist who understand. Whether you may face life’s daily stress or a chronic mental illness, we are here for you. Call one of our offices today or take our free on-line assessment on this website.
P.S. The study mentioned above reveals that millennials’ score for “other-oriented perfectionism,” which is defined as perfectionists imposing unrealistic standards on people around them, also rose by 16 percent.