The reliability and validity of the positive and negative perfectionism scale

"Be perfect in every respect": the mediating role of career adaptability in the relationship between perfectionism and career decision-making difficulties of college students

BACKGROUND

Considering the weakening of the economy and the shrinkage of jobs under the current global epidemic crisis, the employment of college graduates is facing unprecedented and cruel competition. However, many college students lack a reasonable understanding and orientation of themselves, which leads to them having high expectations for future careers and not considering whether they are competent or not. Due to a lack of ability and self-confidence, they appear to be at a loss and hesitant when facing career choices. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between perfectionism, career adaptability and career decision-making difficulties from both positive and negative aspects.

METHODS

We sampled 400 college students in China and used a questionnaire to obtain cross-sectional data through the Perfectionism, Career Adaptability, and Career Decision Difficulties scales. This study explored the relationship between them using statistical analysis software such as SPSS and AMOS through the results of correlation analysis and mediating role analysis.

RESULTS

College students' perfectionism, career adaptability, and career decision-making difficulties were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). Positive perfectionism has a negative predictive effect on career decision-making difficulties, and career adaptability plays a completely mediating role in it (the direct effect is -0.032, the mediation effect is -0.244, and the total effect is -0.276.). Negative perfectionism plays a positive predictive role in career decision-making difficulties, and career adaptability plays a part in mediating roles (the direct effect is 0.334, the mediating effect is 0.099, and the total effect is 0.433.).

CONCLUSIONS

College students will more or less pursue "perfect", but often with their own preferences to pursue, cannot be done based on the rational analysis of things to pursue perfect. College students have higher positive perfectionism and negative perfectionism, and their career adaptability is also at a higher level, but there is a higher degree of career decision-making difficulties. Positive perfectionism of college students can reduce the difficulty of career decision-making, and career adaptability plays a completely mediating role in it. Negative perfectionism of college students will lead to difficulties in career decision-making, in which career adaptability plays a mediating role.

Mediating Mechanisms of Perfectionism: Clinical Comorbidity of OCD and ED

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders (ED) share common causal factors and often represent similar entities. Studies on obsessive-compulsive disorders and eating disorders reveal a significant correlation between maladaptive perfectionism. The objective of this study is to evaluate the predictive variables of perfectionism in patients diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and OCD using a structural equation model (SEM). The sample consisted of 187 participants (60.9% women, 39.1% men) with a mean age of 26.68 (SD = 10.97). The findings reveal that the model is the same in all the disorders evaluated, achieving an adequate fit: χ2 = 7.95 (p = 0.000), RMSEA = 0.087 (95% confidence interval: 0.00 to 0.02), CFI = 0.991, TLI = 0.951 and with an overall predictive capacity of around 30% (CD = 0.318). It is recommended that future studies address the subtypes of disorders evaluated using longitudinal designs.

Toward a More Perfect Conceptualization of Perfectionism: An Exploratory Factor Analysis in Undergraduate College Students

Previous investigations on the factor structure of perfectionism have largely focused on the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The current study aimed to identify the underlying factor structure of perfectionism, based on several widely used measures, and to examine how these factors related to psychopathology and personality broadly. College students (N = 598) completed several measures of perfectionism and broadband measures of psychopathology and personality. Exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) was conducted to examine the hierarchical structure of perfectionism followed by exploratory factor analysis. The hierarchical structure examined provides a framework for understanding the relationship between models of perfectionism at different levels of the hierarchy. The exploratory factor analysis revealed five dimensions of perfectionism: Achievement Striving, Evaluative Concerns, Expectations From Others, Narcissistic Perfectionism, and Organization. These dimensions were associated with psychopathology to differing degrees and were differentially related to personality. These results support using a multidimensional perspective to understand perfectionism.

A Systematic Review of the Psychometric Properties of Multidimensional Trait Perfectionism Self-Report Measures

Different and evolving conceptualisations of perfectionism have led to the development of numerous perfectionism measures in an attempt to capture the true representations of the construct. It is, therefore, important to ensure that these instruments are valid and reliable. The present systematic review examined the literature for the psychometric properties of the most commonly used general multidimensional trait perfectionism self-report measures. Relevant studies were identified by a systematic electronic search of academic databases. A total of 349 studies were identified, with 38 of these meeting inclusion criteria. The psychometric properties presented in each of these studies were subjected to assessment using a standardised protocol. All studies were evaluated by two reviewers independently. Results indicated that while none of the included measures demonstrated adequacy across all of the nine psychometric properties assessed, most were found to possess adequate internal consistency and construct validity. The absence of evidence to support adequate measurement properties over a number of domains for the measures included in this review may be attributed to the criteria of adequacy used, with some appearing overly strict and less relevant to perfectionism measures. Clinical and research relevance of the present findings and directions for future research are discussed.

A Neuropsychological Investigation of Perfectionism

Perfectionism entails a burdensome preoccupation with one's self-evaluation in the context of performance outcomes. Although perfectionism has been subject to extensive research, scant literature on its effect on cognitive functioning is available, let alone in nonclinical populations. The aim of the present study is to utilize a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to assess cognitive functions among college students with high and low levels of perfectionism. Participants were 98 college students who were screened for clinical status, completed a neuropsychological battery, and assessed for perfectionism and related symptomatology. Results revealed that the high negative perfectionism group had significantly higher levels of depression and stress compared to the low negative perfectionism group. However, no group differences were found across neuropsychological outcomes. Gradient differences on clinical outcome measures were found when three groups characterized by high adaptive, high maladaptive, and mixed perfectionism were compared. However, no differences were found on neuropsychological tests. These findings suggest that higher levels of negative perfectionism are associated with significant psychopathological burden, but with intact neuropsychological test performance. These results are important, particularly in the context of the need to identify and treat students struggling with high levels of perfectionism and related psychopathological burden, which can be overlooked given that they present with intact cognitive and academic performance.

Personality Variables and Eating Pathology

Personality variables have long been implicated in the onset and maintenance of eating disorders, as well as in symptom divergence between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Clinical observations are broadly supported by the data, with restricting anorexia nervosa associated with higher levels of constraint and Persistence, and binge-purge behaviors linked to the tendency to take impulsive action when emotionally distressed. Considerable heterogeneity is found within diagnostic categories, however, suggesting that different personality structures may predispose individuals to develop disordered eating through alternative pathways.

Multidimensional Perfectionism and Burnout: A Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis of research examining the relationships between multidimensional perfectionism and burnout is provided. In doing so, relationships before and after controlling for the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism were examined along with whether relationships were moderated by domain (work, sport, or education). A literature search yielded 43 studies (N = 9,838) and 663 effect sizes. Meta-analysis using random-effects models revealed that perfectionistic strivings had small negative or non-significant relationships with overall burnout and symptoms of burnout. By contrast, perfectionistic concerns displayed medium-to-large and medium positive relationships with overall burnout and symptoms of burnout. After controlling for the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism, "pure" perfectionistic strivings displayed notably larger negative relationships. In terms of moderation, in some cases, perfectionistic strivings were less adaptive and perfectionistic concerns more maladaptive in the work domain. Future research should examine explanatory mechanisms, adopt longitudinal designs, and develop interventions to reduce perfectionistic concerns fueled burnout.

Positive and Negative Perfectionism and the Big Five Personality Factors

Perfectionism has been argued to have both positive and negative aspects. Negative perfectionism has a robust positive correlation with psychopathology. This study explored the personality pattern of a group of clinical participants and a group of athletes in relation to positive and negative perfectionism. The results indicated negative perfectionism is related to neuroticism and agreeableness in both clinical and non-clinical groups. Negative perfectionism was most strongly associated with low agreeableness but had no significant relationship with conscientiousness or extraversion in the clinical sample. In the athlete sample, higher negative perfectionism was most strongly related to higher neuroticism but was also associated with lower extraversion and conscientiousness. In order to more fully understand these relationships and their clinical implications, more studies using validated measures of positive and negative perfectionism with larger samples are required. It would be useful to determine if personality factors of agreeableness and competence could be increased in order to ameliorate the distress associated with negative perfectionism.