The Role of Parental Perfectionism and Child Temperament in the Intergenerational Transmission of Perfectionism

A Pilot Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15720159
AuthorsDiana Oliveira (0000-0002-5434-1818, University of Algarve), Carolina Martins (0000-0002-7727-8057, University of Algarve), Luís Faísca (0000-0003-4859-8817, University of Algarve), Marta Brás (0000-0001-7430-1939, University of Algarve), Cristiana Nunes (0000-0002-1009-0519, University of Algarve), Cláudia Carmo (0000-0002-7301-349X, University of Algarve, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume12
Issue11
Pages1452-1452
Publication date2025-10-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueChildren (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/children12111452
PMID41300570
OpenAlexW4415565244
LanguageEN
References cited40

Background/Objectives: Perfectionism is a personality trait characterised by the setting of extremely high and unrealistic personal standards, accompanied by critical self-evaluations. The literature indicates that perfectionism may develop as a learned behaviour, shaped by parent-child interactions, highlighting the influence of parental, individual and environmental factors. This quantitative study examines how parental perfectionism/practices and child temperament contribute to early perfectionism. Methods: The sample comprised 32 first-grade children (9 girls) from Faro district, aged between five and seven, and their parental figures. Parental perfectionism was assessed using self-report questionnaires, while children's characteristics were evaluated through a combination of parent-report measures, direct observation, and interview-based methods. Results: Children self-rated higher perfectionism than parents attributed, with modest cross-informant agreement for socially prescribed and negligible agreement for Self-Oriented Perfectionism. Direct parent-child associations were small and method-dependent. Coercive/intrusive parenting corresponded to higher child Socially Prescribed Perfectionism, with convergence between observed intrusiveness and self-reported coercive practices. Temperament showed modest, patterned covariation with parenting and child perfectionism. Notably, Effortful Control attenuated the association between parental and child Socially Prescribed Perfectionism, whereas Surgency/Extraversion and Negative Affect did not; no temperament dimension moderated Self-Oriented Perfectionism. Conclusions: Findings indicate a complex interplay between dispositional and environmental factors in early childhood and underscore the value of multi-informant, multi-method assessment. As a pilot study, these findings provide initial insights into the intergenerational transmission of perfectionism in small children and serve as a basis for generating hypotheses and guiding future research, emphasising longitudinal designs and diverse samples to strengthen validity and clarify intergenerational processes

Affect (linguistics · Big Five personality traits · Intrusiveness · Perfectionism (psychology · Personality · Temperament · Trait · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies