PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PERFECTIONISM & MINDFULNESS
1
Muhammad Abid Azam1, Paul Ritvo, 1, 2 & Joel Katz 1, 2
School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON
2
Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON
Introduction
This study aims to investigate the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism (MP)
and mindfulness meditation (MM) using physiological measures of stress—heart-rate variability
(HRV) and respiration— as well as measures of visual attention (eye-tracking) and
psychometrics. Perfectionist thinking has received attention for its association to anxietydepressive disorders (Sherry, Hewitt, Flett, & Harvey, 2003), chronic stress in sub-clinical
populations (Pirbaglou et al., 2013), and mortality risks (Fry & Debats, 2009). Reduced HRV is
found under conditions of worry (Brosschot, Van Dijk, & Thayer, 2007), and mental stress
(Fabes & Eisenberg, 1997), while increased HRV has been found during conditions requiring
self-regulatory effort (Segerstrom & Nes, 2007). Visual attention is implicated in anxiety
disorders (Mogg et al., 2000) and attentional bias towards failure is a defined feature of
perfectionism (Hewitt & Flett, 1991). It is hypothesized that perfectionists have reduced HRV
compared to non-perfectionists, and perfectionists exhibit visual attention patterns suggestive of
their attentional biases towards failure.
This study employs a factorial design involving a sample of university students (N = 60)
grouped into MP and non-perfectionists based on psychometric criteria. Students disclosing
psychiatric and cardiovascular conditions are excluded from participating due to presenting
potential confounds with the outcome measures. All participants undergo laboratory conditions
of rest (5 minutes), stress (5 minutes), and afterwards are randomized to either an audio-guided
MM condition or an eyes closed resting condition with audio merely describing MM (10
minutes). Participants are measured using an electrocardiogram and respiratory belt transducer
during all three conditions. In the stress condition, participants perform a 22-trial pattern solving
task presented through an eye-tracking monitor tracking fixations in specified areas of interest
(AOI) on the screen. The trials present problem sets (Problem AOI) that appear solvable
however, unknown to them, actually do not have correct or incorrect answers. The task is
configured to indicate equal counts of correct and incorrect responses (Feedback AOI) by the end
of the 22 trials.
Perfectionists are expected to exhibit reduced HRV in the three conditions compared to
non-perfectionists. Perfectionists are also expected to exhibit greater visual attention towards the
feedback AOI and less visual attention to the problem AOI during the stress task. This study will
help contribute to the literature on perfectionism by exploring previously uninvestigated
relationships with important physiological health and stress markers (HRV and eye-tracking).
This study will also inform MM interventions and programs looking to improve their
effectiveness with populations known to have psychopathological risks.
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