A REVIEW OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF PERFECTIONISM AMONG STUDENTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Perfectionism is a vulnerability factor for different types of disorders. It is a cause of concern for educators and counselors in the academic setting, as perfectionistic university students have potentially become even more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The diathesisstress model of perfectionism considers perfectionism as a risk factor that gets triggered in stressful situations. This article reviewed recent literature on perfectionism and mental health specifically among undergraduate university students. While the presented evidence confirmed the associations of perfectionism with mental health and maladjustment, findings also highlighted the adaptiveness of certain forms of perfectionism that can be beneficial to students. Moreover, the use of different measures of perfectionism in the literature and the presence of mediators and moderators are some of the factors that should be accounted for in interpreting the results of perfectionism studies. It is recommended that further studies be conducted on perfectionism and its correlates further, especially how it links with indicators of mental health in an academic context during the COVID-19 crisis. Recommendations for future agendas of researchers interested in perfectionism and mental health are presented. © 2022