The mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between perfectionism and depression

Major Depressive Disorder is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide; hence identify affecting factors such as perfectionism and interpersonal problems, is important. The purpose of this study was to explain the mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between negative and positive perfectionism and depression. The study design was descriptive correlational type and the statistic population included of all students of Alborz province in the second semester of 2015-2016. The sample consisted of 220 subjects who were selected through multistage sampling from two Islamic Azad University of Karaj and Alborz PNU. The study tools were positive and negative perfectionism by Terry- short, Owens, salde & Dewey (1995), interpersonal difficulties-47 by Pilkonis and colleagues (1996) and Beck Depression Inventory (1961). Structural equation modeling technic was used to analyze the data. Results showed that research structural model base on gathered data fit well and interpersonal problems is a mediator in the relationship between perfectionism and depression. Negative perfectionism through interpersonal problems such as interpersonal sensitivity, interpersonal ambivalence, aggression, social approval and lack of socialization, decreases social support and increases depression.