Perfectionism is a multidimensional trait, including both intra- and interpersonal
dimensions. While many studies have linked perfectionism to a variety of intrapersonal
problems, to date little work has addressed the interpersonal consequences of trait perfectionism.
The present study examined the relationship between perfectionism, marital coping and marital
functioning in a sample of 76 married or common-law couples. First, this study examined
whether perfectionism was related to several indices of marital adjustment both for the self and
for the partner. Second, the relationship between perfectionism and the types of coping strategies
used in response to marital problems was explored. Next, the ability of perfectionism to predict
marital coping and adjustment independent of its associations with depression and neuroticism
was assessed. Finally, this study sought to clarify the how perfectionism is related to marital
adjustment. With respect to this last question, two models of the relationship between
perfectionism, coping and marital adjustment were tested. Based on Hewitt and Flett's (in press)
conceptualization of the relationship between perfectionism and maladjustment, a model was
tested in which negative coping efforts mediate the relationship between perfectionism and self
and partner's marital adjustment. The second model tested was a moderational model in which
perfectionism interacts with coping to produce marital difficulties. The results of this study
suggest that one of the interpersonal dimensions of perfectionism, spouse-prescribed
perfectionism, is strongly negatively associated with marital adjustment for both the self and the
partner. This dimension also predicts the types of coping strategies used in response to marital
difficulties. In addition, it was found that perfectionism predicted variance in marital functioning
and marital coping above and beyond the effects of depression and neuroticism. While no
evidence for a moderational model was found, the present study provided support for Hewitt and Flett's (in press) theoretical model. That is, the use of negative coping strategies mediated the
relationship between spouse-prescribed perfectionism and poorer marital functioning for both
the self and the partner. Overall, this study highlights the importance of perfectionism in the
interpersonal domain.Arts, Faculty ofPsychology, Department ofGraduat