The dual nature of perfectionism : a quantitative study on the impact of perfectionism on career choice among university students

Abstract

Perfectionism refers to rigid standards and attainment of impossibly high standards, even in situations that do not require perfection. The individual‟s shift of attention on specific aspects of life may impede the ability of making simple decisions. This study therefore explored the association between perfectionism and career choice among University of Malta students. The participants were 112 undergraduate students from various faculties with a mean age of 22.2 years. The study adopted a quantitative approach; the data was gathered using the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) in order to assess if the individuals were perfectionists or not, and the Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale so as to evaluate the level of self-worth. Results showed no significant association among age, gender, career decision and career satisfaction in relation to perfectionism. On the other hand, self-worth was found to be associated with perfectionism and thus the higher the perfectionism the higher the reported self-worth. This indicated that the more perfectionist the individual is, the more he values his own worth. Nevertheless, the sub-categories of the almost perfect scale as well as the reason for career choice must be further investigated in future research for a better understanding of the relation between the two.