Dimensions of maladaptive perfectionism as mediators of the relationship between social anxiety and examination stress
Authors: Wiktor Wróbel, Piotr Bereznowski, Aleksandra Raczyńska, Agnieszka Swarra, Bartosz Atroszko
Abstract: This study aimed to examine whether the dimensions of dysfunctional perfectionism mediate the relationship between social anxiety and examination stress. On the grounds of previous studies and social anxiety theory it was suggested that social anxiety is positively related to examination stress and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism, in particular to concern over mistakes and doubts about actions. It was also hypothesised that two of the maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism (concern over mistakes and doubts about actions) are mediators of the relationship between social anxiety and examination stress, whereas both adaptive dimensions of perfectionism (personal standards and organization) do not mediate this relationship. The study was conducted on 148 students (124 women, 19 men, 5 participants did not report gender). Mean age was M = 22.73 (SD = 6.67). Valid, reliable and widely used psychometric tools were applied. The results were consistent with the hypotheses. Social anxiety and examination stress were positively associated with two maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism: concern over mistakes and doubts about action. However, they were not associated with personal standards nor organization. This indicates that socially anxious people may experience greater examination stress, because of their higher anxiety of being humiliated caused by the possibility of making mistakes accompanied by doubts about one’s actions.
Publ: Research and Development of Young Scientists in Poland. Humanities and social sciences