Perfectionism, Emotional Regulation and Anxiety among University Students

Abstract

This study explored the relationships among perfectionism, emotional regulation, and anxiety, with the goal of examining whether perfectionism and emotion regulation serve as predictors of anxiety. A total of 300 participants 163 males and 137 females completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The correlation analysis indicated a significant positive association between perfectionism and emotion regulation; however, neither construct was significantly correlated with anxiety. Notably, regression analysis showed that perfectionism significantly predicted anxiety when controlling for emotion regulation, while emotion regulation itself did not emerge as a significant predictor. Additionally, no significant gender differences were found across the variables. These findings highlight the subtle but meaningful role of perfectionism in anxiety, suggesting its potential as a target for clinical intervention. The study's limitations involve its use of a cross-sectional approach and the reliance on participants' self-reports. Future research is recommended to incorporate longitudinal methods and broader psychological variables to better understand the complex interplay between personality traits, emotional processes, and Anxiety. The findings have important clinical implications, as addressing maladaptive perfectionistic tendencies may help reduce anxiety symptoms and improve psychological well-being.