Multidimensional Perfectionism and the Big Five Personality Traits: A Meta–Analysis

Abstract

Multidimensional perfectionism includes the dimensions perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings. Many studies have investigated the nomological network of multidimensional perfectionism by relating perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings to the Big Five personality traits. Results from these studies were largely inconsistent. In the present study, we meta–analytically integrated 672 effect sizes from 72 samples ( N = 21 573) describing relations between multidimensional perfectionism and the Big Five personality traits. Perfectionistic concerns correlated positively with Neuroticism ( r = 0.383) and negatively with Extraversion ( r = −0.198), Agreeableness ( r = −0.198), Conscientiousness ( r = −0.111), and Openness ( r = −0.087). Perfectionistic strivings correlated positively with Conscientiousness ( r = 0.368), Openness ( r = 0.121), Neuroticism ( r = 0.090), and Extraversion ( r = 0.067) and were unrelated to Agreeableness ( r = 0.002). The measures of perfectionistic concerns and perfectionistic strivings moderated most of these relations. Meta–analytic structural equation modelling allowed controlling each perfectionism dimension for the respective other. This partialling increased all correlations with the exception of the previously positive correlation between perfectionistic strivings and Neuroticism, which ceased to be significant. The findings support the distinction between perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns and demonstrate how multidimensional perfectionism is situated in the context of broader personality traits. © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology