Cross-sectional studies on perfectionism and general affect tend to interpret their findings suggesting affect is an outcome of perfectionism. However, personality theories posit that individual differences in general affect may also influence perfectionism. Expecting to find bidirectional relations, this 3-wave study sought to examine the longitudinal interplay between perfectionism and general affect in a sample of 489 adolescents (54% female) aged 12–19 years. Cross-lagged panel analyses showed a positive unidirectional effect from positive affect to perfectionistic standards as well as a positive bidirectional effect between perfectionistic concerns and negative affect. As expected, general affect was both an antecedent and an outcome of perfectionism. Implications of the findings for the development and outcomes of perfectionism are discussed.

关于完美主义和普遍情感的横断面研究倾向于解释他们的发现，表明情感是完美主义的产物。但是，人格理论认为，一般性影响中的个体差异也可能影响完美主义。期望发现双向关系，这项三波研究试图检查12至19岁的489名青少年（女性占54％）样本中完美主义和一般情感之间的纵向相互作用。交叉滞后的面板分析显示了从正面影响到完美主义标准的正向单向效果，以及在完美主义关注点和负面影响之间的正向双向效果。不出所料，普遍影响既是完美主义的前提，也是完美主义的产物。讨论了研究结果对完美主义的发展和成果的影响。