Traumatic experiences impact perfectionism and coping in Nigerian adolescents

The effects of traumatic experiences on perfectionism and coping strategies in Nigerian adolescents were studied in this research. Adolescents (N = 74) from southwest Nigeria completed surveys about the frequency of various traumatic experiences, perfectionism, and coping mechanisms. Family trauma events significantly predicted concern over mistakes, but no link was found between any type of traumatic events and personal standards. Additionally, adolescents who experienced family trauma reported higher use of emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies compared to those who did not experience such trauma. Adolescents who have gone through traumatic experiences within their families showed perfectionistic concern traits and adopted maladaptive coping strategies.