Joint trajectories of indirect peer victimization and perfectionism across adolescence

Perfectionism has been proposed to be a coping strategy that results from experiencing indirect victimization. However, studies on this topic have predominately been cross-sectional, preventing the understanding of their development. In a sample of 616 youth (M age  = 13.03 at start of current study; SD = 0.38; 54.2 % girls, 76.1 % White) followed annually, we examined the joint trajectories of indirect peer victimization with socially prescribed perfectionism and self-oriented perfectionism from ages 13 to 18 using latent class growth analyses. As expected, we found two high-risk joint trajectory groups: moderate stable indirect peer victimization/high increasing socially prescribed perfectionism (5.5 %) and moderate stable indirect peer victimization/high increasing self-oriented perfectionism (2.3 %). Indirect peer victimization was a better indicator of perfectionism, particularly socially prescribed perfectionism, than the reverse. Group differences in gender and socioeconomic status were found. Findings suggest that appearing perfect may be one way that individuals attempt to prevent further peer abuse.