Adaptive and Maladaptive Perfectionism, Adult Attachment, and Big Five Personality Traits

ABSTRACT

The author examined the role of anxiety and avoidance dimensions of attachment and Big Five personality traits in adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism among 604 (377 male, 227 female) Turkish university students. The results of 2 separate multiple regression analyses yielded that adaptive perfectionism was significantly predicted by conscientiousness, openness, and extraversion. Maladaptive perfectionism was significantly predicted by the neuroticism, anxiety, and avoidance dimensions of attachment. The authors discuss the implications, limitations, and future directions for research.

Keywords:

• adaptive perfectionism
• adult attachment dimensions
• Big Five personality traits
• maladaptive perfectionism

Acknowledgments

This study is based on the PhD thesis of the first author, under the supervision of the second author.