The authors report they have no financial relationship within the past 3 years to disclose.
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Research Article
ETIOLOGIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANXIETY AND DIMENSIONS OF MALADAPTIVE PERFECTIONISMIN YOUNG ADULT FEMALE TWINS
Article first published online: 24 AUG 2011
DOI: 10.1002/da.20890
© 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
Moser, J. S., Slane, J. D., Alexandra Burt, S. and Klump, K. L. (2012), ETIOLOGIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ANXIETY AND DIMENSIONS OF MALADAPTIVE PERFECTIONISMIN YOUNG ADULT FEMALE TWINS. Depress. Anxiety, 29: 47–53. doi: 10.1002/da.20890
Publication History
- Issue published online: 23 JAN 2012
- Article first published online: 24 AUG 2011
- Manuscript Accepted: 23 JUL 2011
- Manuscript Revised: 6 JUL 2011
- Manuscript Received: 18 JAN 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- anxiety;
- perfectionism;
- twins;
- behavior genetics;
- etiology
Abstract
Background
Theory and research suggest that maladaptive perfectionism, specifically, concerns about mistakes (CM) and doubts about actions (DA), may be important etiologic and maintenance mechanisms for anxiety and its disorders. However, no studies speaking directly to the origins of the relationship, i.e. what etiologic factors underlie the phenotypic association between anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism, exist. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by exploring genetic and environmental relationships between anxiety symptoms and maladaptive perfectionism.
Methods
The sample consisted of 292 young adult same-sex female twins from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. Anxiety symptoms were assessed by the State Trait Anxiety Inventory—Trait version and an anxiety problems scale derived from the Young Adult Self Report. Maladaptive perfectionism was measured using the CM and DA subscales of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale.
Results
Anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism were both moderately heritable, with estimates ranging from. 45 to .66. Moreover, multivariate analyses revealed that genetic factors were primarily responsible for associations between anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism (rg=.59–.88).
Conclusion
This is the first study to demonstrate the role of genetic factors in the relationship between anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism. Future studies are needed to uncover the specific biologic and genetic factors that contribute to this relationship and to evaluate whether maladaptive perfectionism represents an intermediate trait or risk factor for anxiety.