Understanding the role of perfectionism standards and discrepancy in longitudinal patterns of anxiety and depression: a latent class growth analysis approach

Student mental health is a growing concern worldwide and understanding the development of health complaints is crucial for developing interventions. This study employed latent class growth analysis to explore patterns of anxiety among university students over four years and examined how these anxiety trajectories influenced the emergence of depression during their final year. Moreover, we tested whether individual differences in perfectionism standards and perfectionism discrepancy explain variation in distinct patterns of anxiety progression. Using data from Dutch students at four points in time (NT1 = 238, NT2 = 154, NT3 = 160, and NT4 = 129), we identified three anxiety trajectories: Stable Low, Stable Medium, and Stable High. Students in the Low Stable anxiety trajectory were significantly less likely to experience higher levels of depression in their final year, while those with Stable Medium or Stable High anxiety were more likely to report higher depression rates. Depression was highest among Stable High students. Notably, perfectionism discrepancy at the start of university increased the likelihood of developing Stable Medium or Stable High anxiety over time. Our findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, such as personalized counseling for students with consistently high anxiety, resource-building initiatives, and interventions focused on perfectionism discrepancy.