If your teenager melts down over a B+ or has stopped trying new things for fear of failing, there’s a good chance they are experiencing perfectionism – a personality trait that involves an intense drive for flawlessness, excessively high standards of performance, and harsh self-criticism.
A major systematic review published earlier this year offers the most comprehensive look to date at perfectionism among young people. The researchers analyzed data from 307 studies conducted between 1989 and 2024, encompassing more than 82,000 college students across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It found that perfectionism has risen continuously over the past 35 years.
The new analysis confirmed that the link between perfectionism and mental health problems is completely stable. Higher perfectionism consistently predicts increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. In fact, the study authors point to perfectionism as a main driver of increased mental health problems among youth.
It also found that two different aspects of perfectionism have been rising at different rates. Perfectionistic strivings — the motivation to set extremely high standards and work hard to meet them — have increased at a steady, linear pace. Perfectionistic concerns — which encompass a fear of failure and anxiety about being judged negatively by others — are increasing exponentially. This means young people are progressively driven by fear of failing, which is associated with worse mental health outcomes.
The Economics of Perfectionism
Research over recent decades points to a variety of social factors that lead to perfectionism. Many high school students feel increased pressure to attend a selective college, while acceptance rates at top universities are falling to all-time lows. In addition, most teens consume a steady diet of social media reels that portray their peers as having perfect lives, which can lead to unrealistic ideas of real life.
As part of the new analysis, researchers also looked at the link between perfectionism and economic data. They hypothesized that increased perfectionism is linked to slower economic growth because when economic opportunities shrink, young people compensate by pushing themselves harder.
Their analysis did find a connection. Over time and across countries, slowing economic growth — measured as declining GDP per capita — was associated with higher rates of perfectionistic striving among young people. Rising economic inequality was also linked to increases in perfectionism.
“When there’s a lack of economic opportunity, young people seem to compensate with striving,” wrote lead author Thomas Curran of the London School of Economics. “And when inequality grows, what you see is that fear and worry about making mistakes and other people’s opinions start to become a more central feature of young people’s psychology.”
What Should Parents Do?
While the problems of perfectionism are partially rooted in social and economic factors, research does identify steps families can take to help. Research suggests:
Express love regardless of achievement. The research consistently shows that when young people feel their parents’ approval depends on their performance, perfectionism rises. Expressing unconditional love independent of grades or results is one of the most protective things a parent can do.
Watch how you react to mistakes. Parents who treat errors as something to learn from help counter the fear-of-failure mindset that is problematic for many teens. When parents share their own real failures and how they recovered from them, it reinforces that message.
Don’t add to the economic anxiety. Conversations centered primarily on grades, college admissions, and job prospects add to perfectionist concerns. Don’t shy away from reality, but avoid adding economic pressure to teens.
Praise effort, not outcome. Decades of research on motivation show that focusing on the process builds resilience, while praising an outcome — a good test grade or a sports win — demonstrates that a young person’s worth is tied to results.
Take distress seriously. If your teen’s perfectionism is causing significant anxiety, avoidance, or signs of depression, evidence-based interventions — particularly cognitive behavioral therapy — are proven to work.
The take-home message: Perfectionism is rising and connected to mental health problems among young people. Parents can help by understanding where this pressure comes from and creating an environment that separates young people’s worth from their performance.