A Study on the Impact of Parental Acceptance/Rejection on Emotion Regulation and Perfectionism on Young Adults

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived parental rejection, difficulties in emotion regulation, and perfectionism among young adults. Early parental experiences play a significant role in shaping emotional and personality development. The study sought to explore whether combined parental rejection (mother and father) was associated with higher levels of emotional dysregulation and perfectionistic tendencies. A sample of 200 participants was selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected manually through standardized self-report questionnaires, including the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Mother and Father versions), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-16), and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. Total scores were computed according to the respective scoring guidelines. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product–Moment Correlation analysis were conducted to examine relationships among the variables. The results revealed a significant moderate positive correlation between parental rejection and difficulties in emotion regulation, r(198) = .43, p < .001. Additionally, parental rejection was significantly positively correlated with perfectionism, r(198) = .47, p < .001. These findings indicate that higher perceived parental rejection is associated with greater emotional dysregulation and increased perfectionistic tendencies. The study highlights the enduring influence of parental experiences on emotional functioning and personality development. The findings underscore the importance of parental warmth and acceptance in fostering adaptive emotional regulation and healthy self-standards. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.