Perfectionists stressed by social pressure

Perfectionists are more sensitive to psychosocial stresses than their more relaxed peers, and this greater responsiveness to stress may have health consequences. Researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland studied 50 middle-aged men. Study participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test, in which they were given 10 minutes to prepare a job application speech. Then, they were asked to deliver it in front of two or three people, followed by backward counting from 2,083 to 0 in increments of 13. They had to start all over again if they made any mistake. Throughout the test, the researchers measured the level of cortisol in the study participants' saliva, and also recorded their blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the blood. The greater a person's perfectionist tendency, higher was his cortisol secretion. They also identified a link between perfectionism and vital exhaustion. It was found that those who measured highest on tests of perfectionism also secreted more of the stress hormone cortisol while undergoing a stressful public speaking task. Perfectionists also showed more symptoms of vital exhaustion, defined as a sense of feeling fatigued, irritable and demoralised. This state is itself a risk factor for heart disease. It was pointed out that perfectionists' high standards are self-imposed. By finding a way to bring these standards closer to reality, perfectionists may be able to strengthen their confidence and possibly become less reactive to social stressors. It is possible to change perfectionist tendencies for better health by behavioural therapy. There are examples of persons who experienced a severe burnout period combined with health problems and who consequently changed their behaviour towards less perfectionism.