Profiles of perfectionism, achievement emotions, and academic burnout in South Korean adolescents: Testing the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism, academic burnout, and achievement emotions via a person-centered approach in a sample of 450 South Korean adolescents (64.7% female). Participants completed two perfectionism scales (i.e., the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised), the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey. The results of the latent profile analysis offered support for the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism with four classes: adaptive (high perfectionistic strivings(PS)/low perfectionistic concerns(PC)), maladaptive (low PS/high PC), mixed (high PS/high PC), and non-perfectionists (low PS/low PC). Adaptive and mixed perfectionists experienced higher levels of positive-activating achievement emotions and lower levels of negative-activating/deactivating achievement emotions than maladaptive and non-perfectionists did.Regarding academic burnout, maladaptive perfectionist was the most maladaptive profile, whereas adaptive perfectionist was the most adaptive profile. Additionally, positive-activating emotions and negative-deactivating emotions negatively and positively predicted academic burnout, respectively. Among these relationships, only the relationship between positive-activating emotions and cynicism was moderated by perfectionism profile. Overall, the present findings may offer a useful framework for understanding the 2 × 2 model of perfectionism of adolescents in academic settings.