¿Cómo se relaciona el perfeccionismo con los miedos nocturnos? Un estudio con niños españoles de 8 a 11 años

How perfectionism is related to nighttimes fears? A study with Spanish children between 8 and 11 years old

Abstract

Night fears are highly frequent in children, influencing negatively their development and their quality of life. It may be conditioned by personality traits such as perfectionism, which has been linked to childhood psychological discomfort. The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between three dimensions of perfectionism and night fears in children. Participants were 319 children aged 8 to 11 selected from three primary schools in Spain, who completed the Nighttime Fears Scale and the Child and Adolescents Perfectionism Scale. Results report an indirect and significant correlation between the subscale Fear of loss or separation from the family and the total score of perfectionism, as well as an indirect and significant relationship between the perception of performance expectations (Socially Prescribed Perfectionism) and the fear of loss or separation from the family and the fear of real stimuli, so that the most perfectionist children report fewer night fears. Besides, girls compared to the boys and younger participants scored higher in nighttime fears. Findings contribute to expanding knowledge about night fears and the factors that may predict their appearance or maintenance, thus being very useful in early detection and clinical practice.