Profiles of Perfectionism Among Adolescents Attending Specialized Elite- and Ordinary Lower Secondary Schools: A Norwegian Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Annett Victoria Stornæs¹  Jan H. Rosenvinge²  Jorunn Sundgot-Borgen¹  Gunn Pettersen³  Oddgeir Friborg² 

[1] Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences;Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway;Department of Health and Care Sciences, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway

关键词: perfectionism;    adolescents;    latent class analysis;    subgroups;    mental health;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02039

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

The versatile construct of perfectionism has been heavily debated, e.g., its nature or measurement constituents, how it influences performances or, most importantly, our health. Conventional linear analyses seem inadequate to address such challenges. Hence, we used a latent variable and a person-centered approach to identify different patterns of perfectionism, and their relationships with psychological health as outcome among early adolescents (13–14 years) attending conventional or elite sports-/performance-oriented lower secondary schools (14 schools, 832 students, 53% girls). All students completed two perfectionism scales, i.e., the child-adolescent perfectionism scale (CAPS) and the frost multidimensional perfectionism scale (FMPS). The criterion-related variables of psychological health included anxiety, depression, eating disorder problems, self-worth and resilience, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a four-factor representation of perfectionism. Using latent class analysis extracted five profiles of perfectionism, which were related to the criterion variables. Three profiles were clear indicators of either low or high perfectionism score patterns. Two profiles showed a mixed picture of high and low scores, whereas one represented a psychological healthy subgroup. About four of ten adolescents in the ordinary schools matched the two most debilitating perfectionism profiles compared to two of ten in the elite schools. How these results align with international findings is discussed along with the relevance for early interventions aimed at preventing the potential downsides of perfectionism. Longitudinal studies are neeed to explore profile trajectories as well as possible health consequences.

【 授权许可】

CC BY