Lower secondary students' perfectionistic profiles: Stability, transitions, and connections with well-being

We investigated lower secondary school students' (N = 511, M age = 15.3 years, girls 51.9 %) perfectionistic profiles, profile stability during the ninth grade, and how profile stability and transitions relate to students' well-being. Using latent profile analysis, students were classified according to their perfectionistic strivings and concerns (measured with SAPS). Four profiles were identified: moderately concerned, perfectionists, ambitious, and non-perfectionists. Latent transition analysis indicated substantial stability in the profiles (transition probabilities: .78–.87). Around 82 % of students held stable profiles over time, but significant transitions were also found: from moderately concerned to non-perfectionists or perfectionists, and from perfectionists to moderately concerned. Although ambitious and perfectionists were highly engaged, perfectionists displayed higher burnout, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Also, the transitions were meaningfully linked to well-being. For example, transitioning from moderately concerned to perfectionists was related to higher exhaustion. The findings highlight the crucial role of perfectionistic concerns on students' well-being.