Perfectionism leads to burnout, especially at work

Like a moth to a flame, perfectionists often get burned by their striving behaviors, at least according to a new meta-analysis published in the Personality and Social Psychology Review.

The analysis examined 43 studies with 663 effect sizes in an attempt to determine the relationship between various aspects of perfectionism and burnout, specifically in the areas of work, sports, and education.

While perfectionism can have its upsides, like a greater sense of accomplishment at achieving goals, the study also found that it has a dark side—known as “perfectionistic concerns”. These concerns include a fear of making mistakes, letting others down, or failing to reach one’s own unusually high standards.

Previous research has linked these concerns to serious health problems including anxiety, depression, fatigue, eating disorders, and early death.

A high tendency for burnout

“Perfectionistic concerns capture fears and doubts about personal performance, which creates stress that can lead to burnout when people become cynical and stop caring,” lead researcher Andrew Hill, an associate professor of sport psychology at York St. John University in England, said in a press release. “It also can interfere with relationships and make it difficult to cope with setbacks because every mistake is viewed as a disaster.”

Hill’s own study found that perfectionistic concerns have a high tendency for burnout in all areas, but especially in the workplace—possibly because it has less social support and explicit objectives than in sports and education. While perfectionism in the other two often result in good grades or more wins, a stellar performance in the office isn’t necessarily always recognized or rewarded.

However, the researchers noted that these traits aren’t limited to types of people who cry over an A-; most people display some characteristics of perfectionism in some areas of their lives, and can suffer from its downsides as well.

“People need to learn to challenge the irrational beliefs that underlie perfectionistic concerns by setting realistic goals, accepting failure as a learning opportunity, and forgiving themselves when they fail,” Hill said. “Creating environments where creativity, effort, and perseverance are valued also would help.”

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