Published 8/28/2024
Kerry Karaffa, PhD, LP, Tamara Hancock, DVM, MS, DACVP, and Tiffany Sanford-Martens, PhD, LP, recently published their research titled, “Perfectionistic Cognitions, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Distress Among Veterinary Students” in the Journal of College Student Mental Health. Karaffa, licensed psychologist and mental health and wellness coordinator at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, was the principal investigator, while Hancock, assistant teaching professor, and Sanford-Martens, licensed psychologist, served as co-investigators.
Previous research has suggested that veterinary students may be at risk for experiencing mental health concerns, and maladaptive perfectionism may be a contributing factor. Some aspects of perfectionism, such as attention to detail or high personal standards, may be adaptive and associated with academic successes. However, maladaptive perfectionism, which is characterized by excessive self-criticism, fear of making mistakes or disappointing others, and feelings of inadequacy, may be detrimental to students’ personal and academic wellbeing.
“Unfortunately, little research has examined this so far and we sought to better understand this relationship,” says Karaffa. “A better understanding of the ways in which perfectionism could compromise veterinary students’ wellbeing is essential to identifying protective factors and points for intervention.”
In the study, an online survey was administered to 472 DVM students enrolled in 18 professional programs of veterinary medicine in the United States. Survey items related to students’ psychological distress, which included depression, anxiety, academic distress and more, as well as the frequency they reported having thoughts about perfectionism and their level of self-compassion.
“Perfectionistic thoughts reflect the discrepancy between one’s aspirational goals and actual level of attainment, and are a component of maladaptive perfectionism,” Karaffa says. “Self-compassion, on the other hand, involves practicing kindness toward oneself when experiencing challenges, seeing challenges as being part of a shared experience, and maintaining a balanced perspective on thoughts and feelings, rather than over-identifying with them.”
When compared to a normative sample of college students, the study found that veterinary students reported more frequent perfectionistic thoughts. Veterinary students who reported experiencing more frequent perfectionistic thoughts also tended to report lower self-compassion and greater psychological distress across a range of symptoms. Furthermore, self-compassion explained part of the relationship between perfectionistic thoughts and psychological distress.
“These findings suggest developing skills to identify and challenge negative self-talk, cultivating an academic environment in which empathy and self-reflection are valued, and improving self-compassion may be ways of practically reducing the impacts of maladaptive perfectionism on veterinary students’ mental health,” says Karaffa.
Karaffa suggests that future research should explore factors that could contribute to the development of maladaptive perfectionism among both pre-veterinary and matriculated students. He also believes that it would be valuable for future research to investigate the effectiveness of individual and organizational interventions to reduce maladaptive perfectionism and improve self-compassion among veterinary students and professionals.
By Nick Childress