László Kasik, Zita Gál & Zoltán Nagy: Characteristics of Social-problem Solving and Anxiety in Perfectionist and Non-perfectionist Adolescents

This research aimed to explore the characteristics and the relationship of social-problem solving and anxiety in non-perfectionist, adaptive perfectionist and maladaptive perfectionist adolescents (grade 6, 11-12-year-olds: n=155; grade 10, 16-17-year-olds: n=150). The instruments used included the Almost Perfect Scale Revised (APSR; Slaney et al., 2001); the Frost Perfectionism Scale (FMPS; Frost et al., 1990); the Social Problem Solving Inventory–Revised (SPSI–R; D’Zurilla et al., 2002); and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory–Children (STAI–C; Sipos et al., 1978). Reliability values (Cronbach-α) were found to be appropriate for all instruments in both age groups (SPSI–R: 0.73–0.89; FMPS: 0.72–0.85; APSR: 0.76–0.86; STAI–C: 0.79–0.87). Based on the results with APSR, almost two-third of the adolescents in each age group could be considered perfectionists; and two-third of them exhibited the signs of adaptive perfectionism, while one-third of them showed the signs of maladaptive perfectionism in both age groups. In line with previous findings, negative orientation, avoidance, fear of failure, concern over parental criticism, and high personal expectations were most characteristic of maladaptive perfectionists in both age groups. Trait anxiety was highest among older maladaptive perfectionist adolescents. Findings highlight the need to pay more attention to maladaptive perfectionist adolescents in schools, as it seems to have a strong tie with social-problem solving even at the start of adolescence, and together with anxiety, it supposedly results in less effective life choices.

MAGYAR PEDAGÓGIA 121. Number 2. 198-208. (2021)

Levelezési cím / Address for correspondence: Kasik László és Gál Zita, Szegedi Tudományegyetem Neveléstudományi Intézet; Szegedi Tudományegyetem Szociális Kompetencia Kutatócsoport. H–6722 Szeged, Petőfi Sándor sgt. 32–34. Nagy Zoltán Szegedi Tudományegyetem Neveléstudományi Doktori Iskola. H–6722 Szeged, Petőfi Sándor sgt. 32–34.

 
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