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Melissa Blackburn

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PhD Candidate, Child and Youth Studies, Brock University

For many teens, the pressure to project a perfect persona can feel necessary to fit in, avoid criticism and gain approval from their peers. (Shutterstock)

March 6, 2025

Pressure to seem perfect can strain teen relationships, but kindness from peers can help

Danielle S. Molnar, Brock University; Dawn Zinga, Brock University; Hanna Puffer, Brock University, and Melissa Blackburn, Brock University

For many teens, the pressure to project a perfect persona feels necessary to fit in and gain approval from their peers. However, the effort to appear perfect may actually push others away.

Perfectionists tend to be unable to or at least reluctant to adapt to changing situations. (Pexels /Julia M Cameron)

November 28, 2022

Perfectionist teens reported more depression and stress during COVID‑19

Danielle S. Molnar, Brock University; Dawn Zinga, Brock University, and Melissa Blackburn, Brock University

Although teen perfectionists often appear to be doing well on the surface, they are not impervious to hardships. They are young people who are often in need of support.

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Location: St Catharines, Ontario
LinkedIn: melissa-blackburn-a81b282b4
X (formerly Twitter): @_blackburnm
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Joined November 15, 2022