An app, including a perfectionism module, was designed to help users identify and reduce maladaptive cognitions related to perfectionism. A recent study found the mobile app intervention lowered symptoms of perfectionism and related impairments compared to a control group.
Key Points
Rationale
Perfectionism is increasingly prevalent among college students and is associated with substantial distress and impairment (Curran & Hill, 2019).
However, barriers like stigma limit the utilization of needed mental health services (Duffy et al., 2019).
Low-intensity mobile app interventions may increase access to effective support.
Prior app-based CBT has shown efficacy for problems related to perfectionism, but apps targeting perfectionism specifically have been lacking (Linardon et al., 2019).
This study evaluated a new mobile app intervention for perfectionism.
Method
Using rigorousrandomized controlled trialmethodology, the study compared the mobile app to a waitlist control condition among 70 college students with elevated perfectionism.
Participants were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment (2 weeks later), and at a 1-month follow-up using validated scales.
Sample
The sample was predominantly female (85.7%) college students with elevated scores (1 SD above the normative mean) on a perfectionism screening measure.
Statistical Analysis
Analyses included repeated-measuresANOVAsand effect sizes. Missing data were addressed using stochastic regression single imputation.
Results
The mobile app group showed significant pre-post reductions in perfectionism symptoms (d= -1.19) that persisted at follow-up. The waitlist control group showed virtually no change (d=.01).
Insight and Depth
The large effect size rivals face-to-face CBT despite the app’s brevity and lack of traditional CBT content.
This demonstrates the efficacy of targeting maladaptive cognitions alone. It also shows that gamification could boost engagement and outcomes.
Strengths
Limitations
Implications
This study establishes mobile app interventions as a promising approach to alleviate perfectionism and related suffering among college students.
The app has the advantages of being accessible, low-cost, and requires very little time investment from users.
Wider implementation could expand service capacity to address college mental health needs.
Conclusions
Mobile app interventions merit further attention as an accessible option for problems prevalent among college students like perfectionism.
Brief daily use seems sufficient to reduce symptoms and functional impairment. Making such easily accessible tools available could promote college mental health.
References
Abramovitch, A., Abramowitz, J. S., & McKay, D. (2021). The OCI-12: A syndromally valid modification of the obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised.Psychiatry Research, 298, 113808.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113808
Curran, T., & Hill, A. P. (2019). Perfectionism is increasing over time: A meta-analysis of birth cohort differences from 1989 to 2016.Psychological Bulletin, 145(4), 410–429.https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000138
Duffy, A., Saunders, K. E. A., Malhi, G. S., Patten, S., Cipriani, A., McNevin, S. H., MacDonald, E., & Geddes, J. (2019). Mental health care for university students: A way forward?The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(11), 885–887.https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30275-5
Linardon, J., Cuijpers, P., Carlbring, P., Messer, M., & Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M. (2019). The efficacy of app-supported smartphone interventions for mental health problems: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.World Psychiatry, 18(3), 325–336.https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20673
Learning check
Saul McLeod, PhD
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester
Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.
Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc
BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education
Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.
