Exploring the Expression and Perceived Relational Correlates of Perfectionism in Higher Education: A Multicenter...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Student Mental Health

Background:

• Perfectionism involves high standards and contingent self-worth.
• Academic settings can intensify perfectionistic pressure.
• Maladaptive outcomes link to socially prescribed perfectionism and self-critical failure processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• Profile perfectionism dimensions in Italian university students.
• Examine associations between perfectionism and relational/self-related correlates.
• Identify risk factors for maladaptive perfectionism in higher education.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter cross-sectional study of Italian university students.
• Utilized the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-Revised (MPS-R) and Roots questionnaire.
• Employed descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and non-parametric group comparisons.

Main Results:

• Self-oriented perfectionism was the most prevalent dimension.
• Socially prescribed perfectionism (SPP) showed stronger links to vulnerability.
• Lower trust and higher SPP correlated with negative self-appraisals and perceived demands.

Conclusions:

• Perfectionism is primarily self-directed but SPP with self-criticism is a risk profile.
• Findings support tailored screening beyond global scores.
• Prevention should address fear of mistakes, contingent self-worth, and evaluative pressure.