Content area
Background: Perfectionism is a multidimensional personality trait encompassing both adaptive and maladaptive aspects that strongly influence students’ psychological health. Spiritual well-being, defined by existential and religious components, has been suggested as a protective factor, yet its relationship with perfectionism remains underexplored in university populations. This study aimed to investigate these associations in a large nationwide sample of Italian undergraduates. Methods: A total of 2103 students from public and private universities across Northern, Central, and Southern Italy participated in an online cross-sectional survey. Validated instruments were used to assess multidimensional perfectionism and spiritual well-being. Results: Self-oriented perfectionism emerged as the most prevalent dimension, followed by other-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism. Scores for existential well-being were higher than those for religious well-being. Existential well-being was negatively associated with socially prescribed perfectionism, suggesting a buffering role against maladaptive forms of striving. Religious well-being showed only a small positive association with perfectionism. Gender and age differences were also observed, with women and younger students reporting higher levels of perfectionism. Conclusions: Findings highlight existential well-being as a potential protective factor in academic contexts, supporting meaning-centered strategies to mitigate maladaptive perfectionism. Longitudinal and cross-cultural studies are warranted to clarify causal mechanisms and inform culturally sensitive educational and clinical practices.
Details
High Achievement;
Depression (Psychology);
Multiple Regression Analysis;
Factor Analysis;
Questionnaires;
Life Satisfaction;
Resilience (Psychology);
Intellectual Disciplines;
Likert Scales;
Religious Factors;
Nonparametric Statistics;
Ethics;
College Students;
Peer Influence;
Beliefs;
Adults;
Parenting Styles;
Expectation;
Data Analysis;
Student Participation;
Self Evaluation (Individuals);
Statistical Data;
Data Processing;
Coping
; Sandri, Elena 2
; De Benedictis Anna 3
; Marchetti, Anna 4
; Petrucci Giorgia 5 ; Dsoke Silvia 6 ; Pucciarelli Gianluca 1 ; Alvaro Rosaria 1
; De Marinis Maria Grazia 4 ; Piredda Michela 3
1 Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (A.L.C.); [email protected] (G.P.); [email protected] (R.A.)
2 Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, c/Quevedo, 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain; [email protected]
3 Research Unit Nursing Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (A.D.B.);
4 Research Unit Nursing Science, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (A.D.B.);, Research Unit Nursing in Palliative Care, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy; [email protected]
5 Research Unit of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico di Roma University, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy
6 Research Unit Nursing in Palliative Care, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy; [email protected]