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Perfectionism and anxiety: Is there a difference between high-ability students and their peers?

Reser, Kristen M.
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0766-0012
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1478089251574031

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, Psychology, Clinical.
Giftedness, defined as possessing abilities that fall in the top 10 percent, can be associated with risk factors that lead to perfectionism. High expectations on gifted students may lead to socially-prescribed perfectionism, a type of “negative” perfectionism, which is associated with anxiety. The present study examined the relationship between high ability students (members of the University Honors Program, or previously identified as gifted), dimensions of perfectionism, and types of anxiety. Honors/gifted participants were compared with their non-Honors/gifted peers. Eighty-two participants (22 male, 60 female) were recruited; 37 were members of the University Honors Program, and 31 reported having been identified as gifted. Participants completed an anagram task to mimic a stressful classroom situation and their pulses were measured before and after the anagram task as a manipulation check. Participants completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Test Anxiety Inventory, and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. No relationship was found between Honors program membership and State or Trait anxiety. Non-Honors students reported more test anxiety than Honors student (p = 0.01). No differences were found between the two groups on the dimensions of perfectionism. Likewise, no differences were found when gifted students were compared to non-gifted students on the same measures. Future research is needed to examine the relationship of perfectionism and high-ability, as this study used Honors students and not exclusively gifted students.
Keri Kirschman, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Lee Dixon, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Erin O'Mara, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
49 p.
Psychology
Perfectionism; giftedness; state anxiety; trait anxiety; test anxiety; Honors students

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Reser, K. M. (2016). Perfectionism and anxiety: Is there a difference between high-ability students and their peers? [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1478089251574031

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Reser, Kristen. Perfectionism and anxiety: Is there a difference between high-ability students and their peers? 2016. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1478089251574031.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Reser, Kristen. "Perfectionism and anxiety: Is there a difference between high-ability students and their peers?" Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1478089251574031

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.