The mediating influence of hope on multidimensional perfectionism and depression

• Hope acts as a buffer between perfectionism and depression.
• Agency and pathways influence the relationship between perfectionism and depression.
• Maladaptive perfectionists showed higher levels of agency than non-perfectionists.

This study investigated the relationship between perfectionism and depression, and the mediating effects of the components of hope – agency and pathways. Participants were 152 undergraduate students who completed an online survey that included measures of perfectionism, hope and depressive symptoms. It was hypothesised that adaptive perfectionists would have higher levels of agency and pathways, and lower levels of depression than maladaptive and non-perfectionists. Further, that agency and pathways would mediate the relationship between both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism and depression. These hypotheses were supported, however, contrary to expectations maladaptive perfectionists demonstrated higher levels of agency than non-perfectionists. The results demonstrate that both components of hope are important to the psychological outcomes of perfectionists.