Multidimensional Perfectionism in a Sample of Jordanian High School Students

Abstract

Counsellors need to be able to understand perfectionism in students, and the different forms that this perfectionism may take, in order to provide their students with the appropriate counselling services. This study investigated gender differences in perfectionism, and examined the relationship of perfectionism to general self-efficacy, life-satisfaction, academic achievement and satisfaction with academic achievement among a sample of 419 high school students (47.0% female, 53.0% male). Data were collected using five scales: (1) The Almost Perfect Scale — Revised (APS-R; Slaney, Rice, Mobley, Trippi, & Ashby, 2001); (2) the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES; Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995); (3) the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS; Diener, Emmons, Larsen & Griffin, 1985); (4) a single item scale for measuring satisfaction with academic achievement; and (5) a demographic information form. Results indicated that females are significantly more perfectionist than males. Adaptive perfectionists had higher self-efficacy, satisfaction with life, academic achievement and satisfaction with academic achievement than did both maladaptive perfectionists and nonperfectionists. Furthermore, there were no significant differences between maladaptive perfectionists and nonperfectionists on any of these variables. This implies that prevention and intervention programs should be designed to enable high school students to set realistically high standards.

Keywords

perfectionism gender differences self-efficacy satisfaction with life academic achievement

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Accordino

D.B.

, Accordino

M.P.

, & Slaney

R.B.

(2000). An investigation of perfectionism, mental health, achievement, and achievement motivation in adolescents. Psychology in the Schools, 37 (6), 535–545. doi:10.1002/1520-6807(200011)

Adler

(1956). Striving for superiority. In

H.L.

Ansbacher &

Ansbacher (Eds.), The individual psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation in selections from his writings (pp. 101–125). New York: Harper & Row.

Ashby

J.S.

, & Bruner

L.P.

(2005). Multidimensional perfectionism and obsessive compulsive behaviors. Journal of College Counseling, 8, 31–40. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1882.2005.tb00070.x

Ashby

J.S.

, LoCicero

K.A.

, & Kenny

M.C.

(2003). The relationship of multidimensional perfectionism to psychological birth order. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 59 (1), 42–51.

Baker

J.A.

(1996). Everyday stressors of academically gifted adolescents. Journal of Secondary Gifted Education, 7, 356–368.

Burns

D.D.

(1980, November). The perfectionist's script for defeat. Psychology Today, 34–52.

Dickinson

W.L.

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2005). Multidimensional perfectionism and ego defenses. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 19, 41–54. doi:10.1300/J035v19n03_05

Diener

, Emmons

R.A.

, Larsen

R.J.

, & Griffin

(1985). The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49 (1), 71–75. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13

DiPrima

A.J.

, Ashby

J.S.

, Gnilka

P.B.

, & Noble

C.L.

(2011). Family relationships and perfectionism in middle-school students. Psychology in the Schools, 48 (8), 815–827. doi:10.1002/pits.20594

10.

Ganske

K.H.

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2007). Perfectionism and career decision-making self-efficacy. Journal of Employment Counseling, 44, 17–28.

11.

Gilman

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2003a). A first study of perfectionism and multidimensional life satisfaction among adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 23 (2), 218–235. doi:10.1177/0272431603023002005

12.

Gilman

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2003b). Multidimensional perfectionism in a sample of middle school students: An exploratory investigation. Psychology in the Schools, 40 (6), 677–689. doi:10.1002/pits.10125

13.

Hamachek

D.E.

(1978). Psychodynamics of normal and neurotic perfectionism. Psychology, 15 (1), 27–33.

14.

LoCicero

K.A.

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2000). Multidimensional perfectionism and self-reported self-efficacy in college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 15 (2), 47–56. doi:10.1300/J035v15n02_06

15.

Martin

J.L.

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2004). Appraising perfection: The relationship of multidimensional perfectionism and intellectual development in college students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 18 (4), 61–74. doi:10.1300/J035v18n04_06

16.

Ongen

D.E.

(2009). The relationship between perfectionism and multidimensional life satisfaction among high school adolescents in Turkey. Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, 37 (1), 52–64.

17.

Pacht

A.R.

(1984). Reflections on perfectionism. American Psychologist, 39, 386–390.

18.

Periasamy

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2002). Multidimensional perfectionism and locus of control: Adaptive vs. maladaptive perfectionism. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 17 (2), 75–86. doi:10.1300/J035v17n02_06

19.

Rice

K.G.

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2002). Perfectionism, dysfunctional attitudes, and self-esteem: A structural equations analysis. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80, 197–203.

20.

Rice

K.G.

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2007). An efficient method for classifying perfectionists. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 72–85.

21.

Rice

K.G.

, & Slaney

R.B.

(2002). Clusters of perfectionists: Two studies of emotional adjustment and academic achievement. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 35, 35–48.

22.

Rice

K.G.

, & Dellwo

J.P.

(2002). Perfectionism and self-development: Implications for college adjustment. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80, 188–196.

23.

Schwarzer

, & Jerusalem

(1995). Generalized self-efficacy scale. In

Wienman ,

Wright , &

Johnston (Eds.), Measures in health psychology: A user's portfolio. Causal and control beliefs (pp. 35–37). Windsor, UK: NFER-Nelson.

24.

Siegle

, & Schuler

P.A.

(2000). Perfectionism differences in gifted middle school students. Roeper Review, 23 (1), 39–44.

25.

Slaney

R.B.

, Rice

K.G.

, Mobley

, Trippi

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2001). The revised almost perfect scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 130–145.

26.

Stoltz

, & Ashby

J.S.

(2007). Perfectionism and lifestyle: Personality differences among adaptive perfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists, and nonperfectionists. The Journal of Individual Psychology, 63 (4), 414–423. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.21.1.240