Perfectionism Profiles and Academic Causal Self-Attributions in Spanish Primary Education Students // Perfiles de perfeccionismo y autoatribuciones causales académicas en estudiantes españoles de Educación Primaria

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between child perfectionism and academic causal self-attributions using a dual approach: variable-oriented and person-oriented. The sample consists of 431 Spanish students (49.42% girls) between the ages of eight and 11 years (M = 9.60, SD = 1.08). The Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale and the Sydney Attribution Scale are employed. Three perfectionism profiles are identified using latent class analysis: high perfectionism, moderate perfectionism and non-perfectionism. Non-perfectionism scores significantly higher than high and moderate perfectionism on failure and success self-attributions to external causes, although in the case of success, these differences are only significant for the language area and the total scores. In contrast, non-perfectionism scores significantly lower than the other two profiles on self-attributions of failure to lack of effort. Effect sizes for the observed differences are generally moderate (d = between 0.44 and 0.75). In addition, results of the bivariate and partial correlational analyses indicate the shared and unique relationships between perfectionist dimensions and causal self-attributions. Thus, it allows discussing the perfectionist dimension which explains the inter-class differences found.