Perfectionism in medical students with different academic performance

Abstract

This article presents theoretical data on the impact perfectionism has on academic performance. Perfectionism is a psychological personality trait that involves placing high demands on oneself, one’s activities, other people or the world as a whole. Perfectionism has a significant impact on people’s workflow and productivity. Its influence on educational activities can take many forms: both as motivation for greater activity, initiative and perseverance, and contributor to an increased anxiety and procrastination. The destructive nature of such influence can manifest itself not only in the inability to endure failures, but also in the frustration of not meeting the unrealistically high standards set by oneself. This paper presents the results of an empirical study of a relationship between perfectionism, academic performance and motivation in medical university students. The multidimensional perfectionism scale by P. Hewitt and G. Flett was used as methodology to assess the characteristics of perfectionism; educational motivation was studied using the methodology of A.A. Rean and V.A. Yakunin (modification by N.Ts. Badmaeva); and an ’s questionnaire was also developed to include questions about academic performance and socio-biographical data. Significant educational motives and structural-level characteristics of students’ perfectionism were revealed. Statistically significant differences in academic performance and motivation were found among students with different levels of socially prescribed perfectionism. Respondents with different levels of academic achievement differed in their motivation and structural-level characteristics of perfectionism. The results of the study revealed motives that are significant for students with higher academic performance. First of all, these include social and creative motives; the possibility of creative self-realization and respect for others motivates students to study actively, achieving high academic performance. A relationship between grades and the level of perfectionism was noted, which turned out to be directly proportional, as suggested by our hypothesis. The results of this study allow us to compare the features of perfectionism and learning motivation at different levels of academic performance.