Perfectionism and anxiety: a paradox in intellectual giftedness?

PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41043. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041043. Epub 2012 Jul 30.

Abstract

Numerous authors reported a prevalence of perfectionism in gifted populations. In addition, an unhealthy form of perfectionism that leads to anxiety disorder has been described. Using self-report measures (CAPS and R-CMAS) with 132 children, we hypothesized that intellectually gifted children express a higher level of perfectionism and anxiety. Our results pointed out a paradox: the gifted group obtained a higher self-oriented perfectionism score than the control group in 6th grade, but present the same level of anxiety. In contrast, the gifted group showed the same level of perfectionism than non-gifted 5(th) graders, but reported a higher anxiety level. Thus, the interplay between perfectionism and anxiety appears to be more complex than a simple linear relationship in giftedness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Gifted / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Intelligence*
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Regression Analysis
  • Self Report
  • Statistics, Nonparametric

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Inkermann Fund, Fondation de France. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.