Perfectionism in the workplace

Abstract

This study explores the impact of perfectionism on health, achievement, and distress in the workplace, focusing on its relations to performance, engagement, strain, and burnout. In two samples of working adults from Canada and Turkey, both the setting of high standards and self-oriented perfectionism were associated with higher levels of performance and engagement. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to test the effects of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism on the four workplace outcomes. Although having high standards did not predict outcomes above and beyond conscientiousness, achievement striving, and achievement motivation, perceived discrepancy between standards and perceived performance was associated with higher levels of strain and burnout, and lower levels of performance and engagement. Adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, operationalized as an interaction between high standards and discrepancy, did not significantly predict performance, engagement, strain, or burnout. The implications of these findings for theory and practice are discussed.