Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Body Dissatisfaction: The Role of Anxiety and Depression

This purpose of the study was to investigate the role of perfectionistic self-presentation aspect of perfectionism with the desire to present a perfect self, which may have a significant impact on emotional and social well-being. The present research assessed the experience of anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction among university students (N =1000) including males (n = 500) and females (n = 500) enrolled in a four-year undergraduate program. Perfectionistic Self-presentation Scale (Hewitt et al., 2003), Body Dissatisfaction Scale (Tariq & Ijaz, 2015), Beck Depression Inventory (Beck et al., 1996) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988) were used to assess the study variables. Results indicated that perfectionistic self-presentation was significantly correlated with anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction in female participants whereas, there was significant correlation between perfectionistic self-presentation and anxiety in male participants. Moreover, two mediation models were tested to see the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and body dissatisfaction using anxiety and depression as mediators. Using regression analysis, results suggested that there was a significant change in the relationship between perfectionistic self-presentation and body dissatisfaction after adding the mediators i.e., anxiety and depression. The study provided evidence that individuals who display high perfectionistic-self presentation are particularly vulnerable to anxiety, depression and body dissatisfaction. The results have been discussed in the light of previous findings.