College students are more perfectionistic than ever before, and the root cause may be economic inequality and slow growth, according to a new study analyzing data from 307 studies with over 82,000 students from 1989 to 2024.
The Research
Dr. Thomas Curran of the London School of Economics and Political Science and his colleagues compiled data from 307 studies conducted between 1989 and 2024, involving more than 82,000 American, Canadian, and British college students. All participants completed standard perfectionism scales. The results, published in Psychological Bulletin, show a continuous increase in self-reported perfectionism over 35 years. Since the early 2000s, "perfectionistic concerns" — fear of failure, indecisiveness, and dread of negative judgment — have grown much faster than "perfectionistic strivings" — healthy high standards. By overlaying economic metrics, the team found that slower GDP per capita growth was tied to higher striving, while rising inequality directly fueled perfectionistic concerns. "Perfectionism is a public health risk — it's associated with increased depression and anxiety," said Curran.
Why It Matters
This study shifts blame from social media to deeper economic forces. Rising inequality makes the cost of falling behind larger, triggering fear of mistakes and hypersensitivity to others' opinions. Perfectionistic concerns predict depression and anxiety regardless of time period, making them a systemic mental health threat. Understanding that external factors, not just personal traits, drive perfectionism can reduce self-blame and guide policy changes.
What You Can Do
- Set realistic goals and celebrate progress, not perfection.
- Practice self-compassion when you make mistakes.
- Limit comparison with others, especially on social media.
- Seek professional help if perfectionism causes distress.
Source: Neuroscience News
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