Research published by the American Psychological Association suggests that college students today experience significantly greater pressure to be perfect than students did a generation ago. The study found that levels of perfectionism have steadily increased over the past several decades, raising concerns because perfectionism is closely linked to depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. According to lead author Thomas Curran, PhD, of the London School of Economics and Political Science, understanding the rise in perfectionism is essential to addressing the growing youth mental health crisis.

The findings, published in Psychological Bulletin, build on earlier research showing that perfectionism among university students had risen through 2017. To determine whether this trend had continued and to better understand its causes, researchers conducted a comprehensive review of 307 studies carried out between 1989 and 2024. The analysis included more than 82,000 college students from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, all of whom completed widely used measures of perfectionism.

The researchers found that self-reported perfectionism increased consistently over the 35-year study period. However, not all forms of perfectionism grew at the same pace. Since the early 2000s, “perfectionistic concerns” — including fear of failure, self-doubt, indecisiveness, and worries about being negatively judged by others — have risen much more rapidly than “perfectionistic strivings,” which reflect setting exceptionally high standards and working hard to achieve them. This suggests that young adults are becoming increasingly concerned about mistakes and external evaluation rather than simply striving for excellence.

To better understand the forces driving these changes, the researchers examined broader economic conditions over time and across countries. Their analysis revealed that slower growth in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was associated with higher levels of perfectionistic striving. At the same time, increasing economic inequality was linked to sharper rises in perfectionistic concerns. These findings suggest that economic conditions may shape how young people view themselves and their prospects for success.

According to Curran, when economic opportunities become more limited, young people may respond by pushing themselves harder in an effort to succeed. At the same time, widening inequality appears to intensify fears about making mistakes and falling behind others. In such environments, concerns about social comparison, achievement, and external judgement may become more central to young people’s lives. The researchers argue that these cultural and economic pressures may help explain why perfectionism has become increasingly common among today’s students.

Importantly, the relationship between perfectionism and mental health remained consistent throughout the study period. Students with higher levels of perfectionism were more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety, regardless of when they were surveyed. Because perfectionism itself has become more prevalent over time, the researchers suggest it may be contributing to broader increases in mental health difficulties among young people. While social media and smartphones are often blamed for worsening youth mental health, the researchers note that rising perfectionism predates these technologies, pointing to deeper cultural and economic forces that deserve greater attention.

More information: Thomas Curran et al, Perfectionism Is Accelerating Over Time: A Cross-Temporal Meta-Analytic Review of 35 Years of College Student Data, Psychological Bulletin. DOI: 10.1037/bul0000518

Journal information: Psychological Bulletin Provided by American Psychological Association