The relationship between perfectionism and self-efficacy

The hypothesis that individuals scoring high vs low on measured perfectionism would differ significantly on a measure of self-efficacy was tested. The Burns Perfectionism Scale (BPS), the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) were administered to 271 college students. It was found that while the BPS and MPS total scores were not able to discriminate high and low perfectionism scorers on self-efficacy, the three subscales of the MPS did. In this case, higher levels of Self-Oriented and Other-Oriented Perfectionism were associated with low self-efficacy, while higher levels of Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism were associated with high self-efficacy. The results not only have important implications for the conceptualization of perfectionism as an important factor in self-efficacy, but have important assessment implications, as well. Possible interpretations are offered. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.