Predicting Depression based on the Components of Perfectionism: The Mediating Role of Self-criticism

This study deals with the direct role of perfectionism components in depression and their indirect mediating role in depression. To this end، 200 students at Bu-Ali Sina University in Hamedan were selected using the stratified random sampling method and responded to the research instruments، including perfectionism scale، self-criticism scale، and Beck''s Depression Inventory. Pearson correlation and path analysis were applied in data collection. Results of the former indicated that there is a significant relation between the components of perfectionism and self-criticism and depression. In addition، there was a significant relation between self-criticism and depression. Path analysis results suggest that beta coefficient of other oriented perfectionism path to depression and community oriented perfectionism path to self-criticism is not significant، while the other path coefficients were significant. Good fit of model indices also demonstrated that the model has a good fit vis-à-vis the model. Overall، the results showed that perfectionism and self-criticism account for 59% of the variance of depression، and self-oriented perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism account for 33% of the variance of self-criticism. Overall، one could draw the conclusion from the collected information that the subjects'' depression could remarkably be controlled through reformed self-criticism and components of perfectionism.