Low Perfectionism Research Articles

SELF-INVESTIGATION INTO REPERCUSSIONS OF PERFECTIONIST BEHAVIOR ON ACADEMIC ANXIETY AND FLEXIBILITY AMONGST CHINESE POSTGRADUATES

<p>Within the sphere of educational psychology, the impact of perfectionism on academic anxiety and flexibility has been closely examined, especially in the context of Chinese postgraduates. The current study analyzed these phenomena within a cohort of 218 postgraduates from a private international Chinese college in Thailand, reflecting an amalgam of Eastern academic culture and postgraduate educational expectations. Results indicated a notable degree of academic anxiety (X=3.70, SD=.75), alongside moderate levels of flexibility (X=2.94, SD=.84) and perfectionist behavior (X=3.23, SD=1.01). Disaggregating data by educational level, Masters students presented with moderate anxiety (X=3.38, SD=.87), low flexibility (X=2.53, SD=.74), and low perfectionism (X=2.74, SD=.66), whereas Ph.D. students exhibited significantly higher anxiety and perfectionism (X=4.51 and X=4.48, SD=.84 respectively), yet demonstrated greater flexibility (X=3.99, SD=.71). Gender and profession proved to be insubstantial factors in influencing these constructs. Contrastingly, educational level was a potent differentiator, with significant disparities evident. The interrelations highlighted a negative correlation between academic anxiety and flexibility (r=-.121), but a positive correlation between academic anxiety and perfectionist tendencies (r=.424). Flexibility and perfectionist behavior were also positively correlated (r=.153). To mitigate the adverse impacts of perfectionism, the study advocates for cognitive-behavioral interventions to reshape perfectionist thought patterns and bolster adaptive coping strategies. It encourages cultivating an educational ethos that emphasizes learning and psychological welfare over impeccable achievement and suggests normalizing mental health discourse within academic environments to alleviate the stigma surrounding perfectionism and anxiety.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0044/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Assessing the Level of Concentration and Full Presence of Perfectionist Students in Online Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 changed the global view of education in less than a few weeks and changed how students are taught worldwide. Online education, while having many advantages, also brings limitations and problems for some students. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the “level of concentration” and “full presence in the class” of perfectionist students in online education among the exceptionally talented students of the higher secondary school in Iran.
 Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 100 randomly selected exceptionally talented students of a higher secondary school in Karaj, Iran. The research tools included perfectionism and concentration skill questionnaires that were provided to students online.
 Results: The findings showed no significant difference in the class’s level of concentration and full presence between students with different degrees of perfectionism (p=0.514 and p=0.247, respectively). However, due to the technical problems of online classrooms, 64% of students with high perfectionism were fully present in the classroom in less than 30 min. This rate was 47% for students with low perfectionism.
 Conclusion: It seems that due to the difference between face-to-face and virtual learning environments, holding online classes along with determining and setting the topics of lessons and training hours differently from face-to-face classes and shorter and more concise in creating an interactive atmosphere may be more useful.

Психологические предикторы прокрастинации студентов-психологов

Background. Nowadays procrastination can be seen as irrational procrastination, ine\ective planning or, more broadly, unproductive self-regulation. In modern scienti]c literature, there are no convincing data that would clarify both the nature of the procrastination phenomenon and the psychological predictors of its occurrence. ^e analysis of the relationship between procrastination and a number of psychological characteristics presented in this paper makes it possible to ]ll this gap. Objective. ^e study aims to identify psychological predictors of procrastination in educational activities among psychology students in di\erent learning conditions (full-time and distance learning). Sample. ^e study involved 460 students of the Faculty of Psychology at Lomonosov Moscow State University (42 male and 418 female) aged 16 to 28 years (average age — 19.63), who participated in the study. Methods. ^e study was conducted in two stages — (I) full-time and (II) distance learning. 2 sections were made at each of the stages: (1) under normal conditions during the semester and (2) under stressful conditions during the examination session. Research methods included the scale of general procrastination by K. Lay (Varvaricheva, 2010); the scale of general procrastination by B. Tukman (Kryukova, 2009) and a number of methods aimed at assessing the psychological characteristics of respondents (anxiety, perfectionism, laziness, chronic stress). Results. ^e obtained regression models indicate that procrastination can be considered as disturbed self-organization: initiating and planning one’s actions, irrational postponing (control over action during planning, laziness and personal anxiety acted as predictors to procrastination). When changing the conditions of activity (distance learning), procrastination can act as a strategy of “saving strength” in a situation of increased consumption of internal resources. In this case, the predictors of procrastination are signs of chronic stress and low demands on oneself (low perfectionism). Conclusion. ^e predictors of procrastination in psychology students under normal learning conditions include low control over action during planning, laziness and high personal anxiety. In a distance learning setting, predictors of procrastination include low standards and self-requirements (low perfectionism) and chronic stress.

A Qualitative Exploration of a Biopsychosocial Profile for Experiencing Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Sports

The purpose of this study was to explore a biopsychosocial profile for experiencing sexual harassment and abuse in sports. A qualitative approach was used; data were collected from semi-structured in-depth interviews covering seven cases of sexual harassment and abuse in sports in the Netherlands. The interview transcripts were analysed and aligned with the biopsychosocial model. The results reveal biological (i.e., aged under 18, sex, and sexual orientation), psychological (i.e., high degree of naivety, altruism and agreeableness, low self-esteem, perfectionism, emotional or disorders) and social factors (i.e., poor or negative relationship with parents, social pressure to perform, incest at home, social isolation, elite sports and too much power of a single trainer/coach) that can contribute to the risk of experiencing sexual harassment and abuse in sports. These findings provide important directions for prevention and recognition in sports practice and future research.

Mediational Effect of Fairburn's Transdiagnostic Mechanisms Between Attachment to the Mother and Eating Disorder Symptoms in a Clinical Sample.

ObjectiveResearch has supported a link between insecure attachment and eating disorders (EDs); however, little is known about how this influence is exerted in young female EDs patients. This study tested, for the first time, a multiple mediational model, wherein the four Fairburn’s transdiagnostic mechanisms mediated the relationship between attachment to the mother and ED symptoms.MethodsA total of 101 female young EDs patients aged 15–24 were administered the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, Eating Disorder Inventory-3 and Eating Attitudes Test-26 to assess attachment, the four transdiagnostic maintaining mechanisms and ED symptoms, respectively.ResultsComparison analyses showed that there were no significant differences between the diagnostic groups in terms of attachment and the transdiagnostic variables. Multiple mediational analyses indicated that low self-esteem and clinical perfectionism were significant mediators between insecure attachment to the mother and ED symptoms, while controlling for depressive symptoms.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the distal risk influence of insecure attachment to the mother in the development of ED symptoms might be explained by low self-esteem and high clinical perfectionism, controlling for depressive symptoms. Further investigation into the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatments targeting insecure attachment representations for young EDs patients is recommended.

Trait Emotional Intelligence and Happiness of Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Perfectionism.

Perfectionism or a tendency to aim for an unrealistic standard can impair happiness. However, the potential mechanisms of perfectionism to explain the association between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and happiness are still understudied. This study explores the mediating role of perfectionism in the relationship between trait emotional intelligence (EI) and happiness among young adults. A cross-sectional sample of 259 young adults aged between 18 to 35 years old was recruited. All analyses were conducted using SPSS and AMOS Structural Equation Modeling. High trait EI was linked to low perfectionism and high happiness levels. Furthermore, perfectionism mediated the relationship between trait EI and happiness. Although high trait EI lowered maladaptive perfectionism, the negative impact of maladaptive perfectionism remained and subsequently led to decreasing happiness levels of young adults. This study offers an enhanced understanding of the role of perfectionism in explaining the happiness state of young adults. Moreover, it provides practical implications for using trait EI and managing perfectionism tendency to manage the happiness and wellbeing of the young adult population.

Different clusters of perfectionism in inpatients with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls

ABSTRACT Perfectionism is a risk and maintaining factor for anorexia nervosa (AN) but studies on its classification are lacking. This study aimed to classify patients with AN and healthy controls (HCs) according to their perfectionism; to evaluate the association between perfectionism clusters and severity of general and eating psychopathology for both groups; to investigate the relationship between baseline perfectionism and hospitalization outcome for patients. A sample of 207 inpatients with AN and 292 HCs completed: Eating Disorders Inventory-2, Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and State- Trait Anxiety Inventory. Cluster analyses were run to classify participants according to their perfectionism scores. Three clusters (i.e., high, medium, low perfectionism) emerged for both patients with AN and HCs. The high perfectionism cluster was over-represented among patients. Both groups reported significant differences across clusters in eating-related difficulties. In AN, anxiety and depression severity varied across clusters according to perfectionism, but patients’ baseline perfectionism was unrelated to hospitalization outcome. Inpatients with AN and HCs could be grouped in clusters of high, medium, and low perfectionism which also mirrored their eating psychopathology severity. Finally, hospitalization outcome was unrelated to inpatients’ baseline perfectionism.

Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on perfectionism and resilience in migraine patients

Aims: According to the World Health Organization, migraine is the twentieth rank among all disability-causing disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on perfectionism and resilience in migraine patients. Materials and Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pretest–posttest design and a control group. The statistical population of the study included all patients with migraine who presented to neurologists in Tehran in the fall of 2018, from which thirty patients were selected using convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The data were collected by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Ahvaz Perfectionism Scale (APS). The experimental group received ACT in eight weekly sessions, while the control group was on the waiting list. The data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: Findings showed that there was a difference between the control and experimental groups in perfectionism and resilience means at the posttest level. Regarding the means of the variables after the intervention, results showed that those patients who received the intervention had more resilience and lower perfectionism than those who were in the waitlist control group. Therefore, the ACT was effective on perfectionism (P

Sexual response in obsessive-compulsive disorder: the role of obsessive beliefs.

Sexual response in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) research and practice is overlooked. According to the Dual Control Model, satisfactory sexual response is based upon a balance of sexual excitation and inhibition. The assessment of sexual response in OCD may have clinical implications, such as the integration of sex therapy in psychotherapeutic intervention. The present study was aimed at comparing sexual excitation and inhibition levels between OCD patients and matched control subjects, and investigating whether obsessive beliefs might predict sexual excitation/inhibition. Seventy-two OCD patients (mean age±standard deviation [SD]: 34.50±10.39years) and 72 matched control subjects (mean age±SD: 34.25±10.18) were included (62.50% men and 37.50% women in both groups). The Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R), the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire-46 (OBQ-46), and the Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES) were administered. Patients with OCD showed significantly higher levels of sexual excitation, inhibition due to threat of performance failure, and inhibition due to threat of performance consequences than the controls. In addition, the patients with more severe symptoms showed lower excitation than those with less severe symptoms, and those with higher perfectionism had stronger inhibition due to threat of performance failure than those with lower perfectionism. This is the first study exploring sexual response in OCD according to the Dual Control Model. Sexual response is an impaired quality of life outcome in OCD that should be assessed in routine clinical practice. These findings support the importance of addressing specific obsessive beliefs to improve sexuality in OCD patients.

FEATURES OF STUDENTS' MOTIVATIONAL SPHERE AT DIFFERENT LEVEL OF PERFECTIONISM

The article presents the results of the study of students’ motivational features characteristic for students having different levels of perfectionism. Perfectionism is defined as a personal trait, which involves perfection pursuit, imposition of high demands and unrealistic standards. Perfectionism simultaneously combines extrapsychic and intrapsychic aspects, expressed in the pursuit of perfection, which, on the one hand, is cultivated by modern society and envisages social encouragement and recognition, but on the other, is associated with some dysfunctional features. An empirical study was conducted to determine the differences between the motivational characteristics of students having different levels of perfectionism. The poll was attended by 299 people. Based on the statistical analysis, differences were found among persons with high, medium and low levels of perfectionism. The motives for own development and active acquisition of social prestige and power are dominant for people with high perfectionism, which affects negatively their self-esteem. In addition, their level of aspirations to desired goals is partially idealized. For this group, the fear of being rejected is high. For persons with medium perfectionism, the dominant motive is communication, which implies satisfaction of the need to have communicative interactions with their environment. This category of students needs to maintain relationships with others, to receive “feedback”. Students with low perfectionism have mainly consumer motives, such as comfort and life support maintaining. The need for mutual understanding, warm social contacts are positively reflected in their self-acceptance. Persons with low perfectionism are characterised by the most positive evaluation of the real state of motive satisfaction, they do not have idealistic beliefs.

The personalities of most medical students are suited to rural practice: Implications for rural education program recruitment

Introduction: The success of rural longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) programs has contributed to our understanding of selecting and training students for rural practice. Studies have explored the personality traits of students who participate in rural LICs although few have compared them with classmates who have not. The purpose is to compare personalities of four successive cohorts of students in the LIC Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP) with their non-RPAP classmates.Methods: In a longitudinal cross-sectional design, medical students RPAP and non-RPAP, from 2013 to 2017 completed identical questionnaires comprising measures of personality, perfectionism, ambiguity tolerance, and resilience. T-tests, ANOVA, and post-hoc tests compared groups. K-means cluster analysis identified profiles of traits.Results: Total sample 286; RPAP = 128; non-RPAP = 158. Gender and age proportions were not different between groups. RPAP students were significantly lower in levels of perfectionism and higher in cooperativeness compared to non-RPAP classmates. Similar proportions of both groups were distributed across three personality profiles detected.Conclusions: Lower perfectionism implies advantages for rural practice. Nevertheless, similarities between groups suggest that most students would be successful in rural practice. More encouragement to all students may improve uptake of rural LICs. Greater attention to issues that affect decisions to explore rural medical education, particularly for our next generation of students, is required.

Perfectionism in Eating Disorders: Are Long-Term Outcomes Influenced by Extent and Changeability in Initial Perfectionism?

PurposePerfectionism has been found to predict outcomes in the treatment of eating disorders (ED). In the present study, we took advantage of longitudinal data to: a) investigate whether there are different patterns of perfectionism during the first six months after admission in a clinical sample of patients with ED, and b) describe how these patterns are related to long-term outcome.MethodsA sample of patients (N=294) from the Coordinated Evaluation and Research at Specialized Units for Eating Disorders database was divided into clusters according to perfectionism patterns measured with the EDI-2 perfectionism scale at baseline, and six months in treatment. Cluster analysis was performed on the extent and perseverance/changeability of self-oriented and socially described perfectionism. Outcome was measured with the EDI-2 and the SCL-63. Frequencies of eating disorder diagnoses were investigated.ResultsFive clusters were identified. Low perfectionism was associated with lower levels of ED and psychiatric symptomatology at baseline. There were no significant differences between clusters on outcome variables at 36-month follow-up.ConclusionsResults indicated better psychiatric and psychological health three years after the initial measure. Patterns of relations between the extent and possible changes of perfectionism, measured with the EDI-P at baseline and after six months, did not appear to be associated with long-term outcomes on psychiatric health ratings.

Perfectionism and cognitive rigidity in anorexia nervosa: Is there an association?

Little is known about the relationship between neuropsychology, personality, and eating psychopathology in anorexia nervosa (AN). We aimed to investigate the interaction between set shifting and perfectionism in AN and to ascertain the role of perfectionism as a mediator between set shifting and eating psychopathology. Eighty-five patients with AN and 71 healthy controls completed Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (using 8 as a cut-off for generating groups with high vs. low perfectionism), Beck Depression Inventory, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Trail Making Task, and Hayling Sentence Completion Task. Our findings support heightened cognitive inflexibility in individuals with AN, particularly in those with high perfectionism. Perfectionism resulted to be a mediator of the relationship between a measure of set shifting and drive for thinness, but this finding did not remain significant when including in the model only those with AN. Taken together, these data suggest a complex and nonexclusive association between set shifting, eating psychopathology, and perfectionism.

Subtypes of Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism in Anorexia Nervosa: Associations with Eating Disorder and Affective Symptoms.

Perfectionism is hypothesized to contribute to the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). However, there is little research regarding whether individuals with AN can be classified according to maladaptive (e.g., evaluative concerns) and adaptive (e.g., high personal standards) facets of perfectionism that predict distinct outcomes and might warrant different intervention approaches. In this study, a latent profile analysis was conducted using data from adults with AN (n = 118). Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost et al. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14(5), 449-46, 1990) subscales were used to identify subgroups differing according to endorsed perfectionism features (e.g., adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism). Generalized linear models were used to compare subgroups on eating disorder and affective symptoms measured through questionnaire and ecological momentary assessment. Four subgroups were identified: (a) Low Perfectionism; (b) High Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism; (c) Moderate Maladaptive Perfectionism; and (d) High Maladaptive Perfectionism. Subgroups differed on overall eating disorder symptoms (p < .001), purging (p = .005), restrictive eating (p < .001), and body checking (p < .001) frequency, depressive (p < .001) and anxiety (p < .001) symptoms, and negative (p = .001) and positive (p < .001) affect. The Low Perfectionism group displayed the most adaptive scores and the Moderate and High Maladaptive Perfectionism groups demonstrated the most elevated clinical symptoms. The High Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism group demonstrated low affective disturbances, but elevated eating disorder symptoms. Results support the clinical significance of subtyping according to perfectionism dimensions in AN. Research is needed to determine if perfectionism subtyping can enhance individualized treatment targeting in AN.

Perfectionism, cognitive emotion regulation and perceived distress/coping

IntroductionPerfectionism and cognitive emotion regulation (CER) mechanisms have been associated with perceived stress/coping, negative affect (NA) and mental problems. Comparatively, the correlates of Positive Affect (PA) have been less studied.AimTo compare Perfectionism, CER and Perceived distress/coping by groups with different levels of NA/PA.MethodsA total of 344 medical students (68.4% girls) completed the Hewitt &amp; Flett and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scales (H&amp;F-MPS/F-MPS), the Profile of Mood States, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire.ResultsThe subjects with high NA, when compared to those with low NA, showed significant higher levels of Evaluative Concerns (EC), Positive Striving (PStr), of H&amp;F-MPS/F-MPS total and dimensions scores (excluding Organization) of Rumination, Blaming others, Self-blaming, Catastrophizing and Perceived distress (all P &lt; 0.01). They also revealed lower levels of Positive reevaluation and planning; Positive refocusing, Putting into perspective and Perceived coping (all P &lt; 0.01). The subjects with high and medium levels of PA, when compared to the subjects with low PA, showed significant lower levels of Perceived distress, EC, Socially-Prescribed Perfectionism, Doubts about action, Concerns over Mistakes, (all P &lt; 0.01), Self-Oriented Perfectionism, PStr (P &lt; 0.01, P &lt; 0.05, respectively) and higher levels of Perceived coping, Positive reevaluation and planning, Positive refocusing, Putting into perspective (all P &lt; 0.01) and Acceptance (P &lt; 0.01, P &lt; 0.05, respectively).ConclusionsNA is associated with perfectionism, high maladaptive and low adaptive CER, and also with high Perceived distress/low coping, which might increase the subject's vulnerability to psychopathology. Low perfectionism, high adaptive CER and perceived coping are associated with PA and might be protective factors.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Eating disorder symptoms: association with perfectionism traits in male adolescents

Background Evidence indicates a relationship between perfectionism and eating disorder symptoms (EDS). However, there is no such empirical evidence in Brazilian scientific literature. Moreover, studies of EDS in the male sex are scarce. Objective To analyze a possible association between EDS and perfectionism traits in adolescent males. Methods Participants were 368 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years. We used the subscales of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale to assess EDS and perfectionism traits, respectively. Results The results indicated a statistically significant association between the high perfectionism trait and EDS (X2 = 16.40; Wald = 15.92; p = 0.001). Moreover, the findings showed no difference in the scores of the Diet (F(1, 367) = 2.14; p = 0.23) or Concern for Food and Bulimia (F(1, 367) = 2.44; p = 0.19) subscales according to groups of perfectionism. However, we identified a higher score on the Oral Self-Control subscale of the EAT-26 in the group with high perfectionism trait than adolescents with a low perfectionism trait (F(1, 367) = 13.88; p = 0.02). Discussion: EDS were associated with perfectionism in adolescent males.

Perfectionism and career decidedness of Filipino college students

The short report investigates the impact of perfectionistic tendencies on career decidedness. One hundred seventy two Filipino college students (N=172) served as respondents of the inquiry. Findings revealed that organization positively correlates to occupational knowledge and training while parental expectations positively correlate to decidedness. Parental expectations served as the robust predictor of decidedness. Students with low perfectionism scored higher on decidedness and comfort. On the other hand, those with high levels of perfectionism experienced greater self-clarity, occupational knowledge and training, decisiveness, and career choice importance. From these results, the positive and negative contributions of perfectionism on the process making career decisions are illustrated. Implications of the findings are elaborated.

Risk and protective factors for disturbed eating: A 7-year longitudinal study of eating attitudes and psychological factors in adolescent girls and their parents

The aims of this seven-year longitudinal study of 228 girls (9- and 13-yr olds) were to examine 1) the predictive value of eating attitudes, a wish to be thinner, dieting, perfectionism, self-esteem and Body Mass Index; 2) the girls' parents' eating attitudes and perfectionism in relation to the development of disturbed eating attitudes, seven years later; and 3) whether normal body weight, healthy eating attitudes and low perfectionism together with high self-esteem might operate as protective factors for the later development of disturbed eating attitudes. The pre-adolescent girls (9-yr olds) "wish to be thinner" and fathers' EAT scores contributed most to the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes seven years later. Corresponding analysis for the adolescent girls (13-yr olds) showed that a "wish to be thinner" and mothers' rating on perfectionism contributed most to the prediction of disturbed eating attitudes seven years later. Protective factors were low BMI and more healthy eating attitudes - especially moderated by high selfesteem, and a low-to-medium degree of perfectionism. High self-esteem appeared to be a protective factor when the girls had a high degree of perfectionism. These results suggest that it is important to focus on healthy eating attitudes at home to prevent overweight in early childhood, enhance self-esteem and to take a critical stand toward the thinness ideal in our society.

Inferiority Feeling and Self-oriented Perfectionism in Adolescence

The relationship between feeling of inferiority and self-oriented perfectionism in adolescence was investigated. Adolescents (N5609) were asked to complete a questionnaire of 40-item feeling of inferiority scale and Multidimensional Self-oriented Perfectionism Scale (MSPS). Results of cluster analysis revealed four clusters of adolescents: (1) Low perfectionism, (2) High concern over mistakes, (3) High perfectionism, and (4) High personal standards. Results of analysis of variance indicated that adolescents with high concern over mistakes had significantly stronger inferiority feeling than other groups.

Promoting mental health in students: is there a role for sleep?

Independently both the role of being a student and reporting insufficient or unsatisfactory sleep have been shown to have deleterious consequences on mental health. However, few studies have examined the combined relationship between students' sleep patterns specifically with mental health in mind, and how individual psychological characteristics and situational factors can influence this relationship. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between sleep functioning and students' levels of perceived stress over the course of an exam period. Additionally, the influence of perfectionism (as an individual characteristic) and daytime sleep-related intrusive thoughts (sleep catastrophising) on sleep functioning and stress were also examined. Two assumptions were tested. Firstly, that stress would increase between baseline and the morning of the exam and secondly, that this relationship would be moderated by poor sleep functioning, sleep catastrophising and levels of perfectionism. Levels of stress, sleep functioning and sleep catastrophising were examined over a seven-day period in 48 Access to Higher Education students about to take an exam and 44 non-exam taking controls. For the exam group, levels of stress and sleep catastrophising increased between time-points. At baseline higher reported perfectionism predicted stress scores. Conversely, low perfectionism predicted high stress on the morning of the exam. Additionally, going to bed later and high levels of sleep catastrophising were also related to stress levels the morning of the exam. The results suggest an association between perfectionism and pre-exam stress, and are discussed in terms of mental health promotion for higher education students.