The moderating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms in female university students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Counseling, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant professor, Department of Counseling, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant professor, Department of Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22098/jpc.2025.18727.1357

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the moderating role of psychological flexibility in the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms in female undergraduate students of Alzahra University.

Method: This study was conducted on a sample of 500 female students who were selected using multi-stage cluster random sampling. The instruments used included the Tehran Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Beshart Mohammad Ali 2007), the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) (Rolfes et al., 2018), and the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck 1960).

Result: The results of structural equation modeling analysis showed that perfectionism and psychological inflexibility were positively and significantly predicted depressive symptoms, and psychological flexibility had a significant association with depressive symptoms. Also, psychological flexibility was able to significantly moderate the relationship between perfectionism and depressive symptoms, such that female university students with higher levels of psychological flexibility showed less experience of depression.

Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of psychological flexibility as a protective and moderating factor in reducing the negative effects of perfectionism in female university students ' depressive symptoms and help to develop preventive programs to increase psychological flexibility among this group.

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