Structural equation modeling and the effect of perceived academic inferiority, socially prescribed perfectionism, and parents’ forced social comparison on adolescents’ depression and aggression

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effects of socially prescribed perfectionism and academic inferiority on the relationship between parents’ forced social comparison and high school students’ depression and aggression. A total of 640 Korean high school students participated in the study's survey, which measured their perceptions of socially prescribed perfectionism, academic inferiority, depression, aggression, and of their parents’ forced social comparison. The study's results are as follows. First, the research model set in this study was found to be suitable. Parents’ forced social comparison was significantly related to socially prescribed perfectionism and academic inferiority, and socially prescribed perfectionism was significantly related to academic inferiority, depression, and aggression. Academic inferiority was significantly correlated with depression, and depression was significantly correlated with aggression. Second, socially prescribed perfectionism had a simple mediating effect on both the relationship between parents’ forced social comparison and depression and the relationship between academic comparison and aggression. In addition, academic inferiority presented a simple mediating effect on the relationship between social comparison and depression. Third, socially prescribed perfectionism and academic inferiority exhibited a double mediating effect on the relationship between parents’ forced social comparison and depression. After presenting these findings, the study outlines its implications and limitations.