Perfectionism and objective physical health in older adults: a mediational analysis of psychological distress.

Background: Research has suggested that the relationship between perfectionism and perceived health may be mediated by psychological distress. However, there is a lack of studies that demonstrate this relationship in older adults and that also use objective physical health measures (such as physical fitness). This study aimed to investigate whether the associations between perfectionistic dimensions and physical fitness in older adults are mediated by psychological distress.

Participants and procedure: Older adults (N = 121; 90 women) were evaluated for perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns), psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and upper limb strength). The mediation model was run with the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

Results: Perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns significantly and positively predicted depression, anxiety, and stress (all p < .050). Anxiety negatively predicted balance, while depression negatively predicted upper limb strength (both p < .050). Mediation analyses indicated that perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns were associated with poorer balance via higher levels of depression. Both dimensions were also associated with less upper limb strength via higher levels of anxiety. No associations were found between perfectionism and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Conclusions: These findings support the idea that psychological distress has an important role in the link between perfectionism and physical health in older adults.