The Perfectionism Crisis: Why Are Young People Now So Afraid of Making Mistakes?
For many young people today, life feels like an unending exam. There’s always another achievement to chase, social comparisons to navigate, and a version of oneself to constantly improve. When academic grades dip slightly or a photo looks less than perfect, the entire day can feel shattered.
Smartphones and social media have often been blamed for this phenomenon. However, a major study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin reveals that this psychological pressure began rising before smartphones dominated daily life.
This comprehensive research tracked perfectionism levels among students in the US, Canada, and the UK over 35 years (1989 to 2024). Involving over 82,000 students from 297 studies, the findings reveal a worrying trend: young people are becoming increasingly perfectionist, with their fear of failure growing at a much faster rate.
“Perfectionism is a public health risk, linked to rising depression and anxiety,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Thomas Curran of the London School of Economics and Political Science. “If we are to address the youth mental health crisis, we must focus on these cultural and economic factors.”
Researchers divided perfectionism into two main patterns. First, perfectionistic strivings, which focus on high standards and ambitious achievements. Second, perfectionistic concerns, driven by fear, shame, doubt, and extreme anxiety over mistakes.
Although students’ ambitions to achieve high grades and successful careers continue to rise, the sharpest increase has been in fear of making mistakes (perfectionistic concerns). This fear trend has been climbing rapidly since 2000.
As a result, small mistakes now feel deeply personal and overwhelming. Poor exam results or job rejections are no longer seen as normal life dynamics but as identity failures. The thought ‘I failed, therefore I am a failure’ leaves many students emotionally exhausted and avoiding new challenges for fear of appearing imperfect.
The study also found that this perfectionism pressure is heavily influenced by external factors such as high income inequality and limited economic opportunities in society. As social gaps widen, failure feels more catastrophic because the stakes are much higher.
“When economic opportunities are scarce, young people seem to compensate with intense effort,” Dr. Curran said. “And as inequality grows, what you see is that fear of making mistakes and concern over others’ opinions become more central features of young people’s psychology.”
Social media exacerbates this by providing a constant space for comparison, though Dr. Curran stressed that the root cause runs deeper than just devices.
“Smartphones and social media have been blamed for much, but the rise in perfectionism preceded social media,” Dr. Curran noted. “This research indicates something more profound is at play.”
Ultimately, the research reminds us that individual therapy alone is insufficient. The extreme competitive culture and an economy that punishes failure must be addressed. Young people don’t need to scale back their dreams; they need a more humane space to grow and learn from mistakes without feeling worthless.