Positive and negative affect in adolescents: An investigation of the 2 x 2 model of perfectionism

Research on the 2 x 2 model of perfectionism and affect is still limited. Following a variable-centered approach, the present study investigated in a sample of 576 adolescents whether self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) and socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) predicted positive and negative affect, comparing four subtypes of perfectionism: pure SOP, pure SPP, mixed perfectionism, and non-perfectionism. Regarding positive affect, all four subtypes differed: Pure SOP predicted the highest levels of positive affect followed by mixed perfectionism, non-perfectionism, and pure SPP. Regarding negative affect, pure SPP and mixed perfectionism predicted higher levels of negative affect than pure SOP and non-perfectionism, but pure SPP did not differ from mixed perfectionism (and pure SOP not from non-perfectionism). Implications of the findings for the 2 x 2 model are discussed.