ABSTRACT

Background and Objectives. Perfectionism is a multidimensional personality trait often viewed as a risk factor for developing test anxiety. A recent meta-analysis showed positive correlations of perfectionism facets with test anxiety dimensions. However, all previous research into the perfectionism-test anxiety relation has been cross-sectional. Thus, it is unclear whether perfectionism facets longitudinally predict test anxiety.

Design. In this study, we investigated concurrent and predictive relations of two perfectionism facets with cognitive test anxiety (worry) and affective test anxiety (emotionality) in secondary school students (N = 478, mean age at T1 = 11.95 years). At T1, participants completed self-report measures of text anxiety and perfectionism. Almost five years later, participants again reported their test anxiety levels (T2).

Results. Concern over mistakes and doubts correlated positively with current worry and emotionality. Personal standards correlated positively with current worry. Neither concern over mistakes and doubts nor personal standards significantly predicted later test anxiety beyond baseline.

Conclusions. Perfectionism and test anxiety share common manifestations. Yet, this study raises the question whether perfectionism truly influences test anxiety development or whether other factors (e.g., construct overlap) may explain the identified cross-sectional correlations. Future research is needed to provide more nuanced insights into perfectionism-test anxiety associations.

摘要

背景和目标。完美主义是一种多维人格特质，通常被视为产生考试焦虑的危险因素。最近的一项荟萃​​分析显示，完美主义方面与考试焦虑维度呈正相关。然而，之前所有关于完美主义与考试焦虑关系的研究都是横断面的。因此，尚不清楚完美主义方面是否纵向预测考试焦虑。

设计。在这项研究中，我们调查了中学生（N  = 478，T1 的平均年龄 = 11.95 岁）中两个完美主义方面与认知测试焦虑（担心）和情感测试焦虑（情绪）的并发和预测关系。在 T1，参与者完成了文本焦虑和完美主义的自我报告措施。差不多五年后，参与者再次报告了他们的考试焦虑水平 (T2)。

结果。对错误和怀疑的关注与当前的担忧和情绪呈正相关。个人标准与当前的担忧呈正相关。对错误和怀疑的关注以及个人标准都不能显着预测超出基线的后期考试焦虑。

结论。完美主义和考试焦虑有共同的表现。然而，这项研究提出了完美主义是否真正影响考试焦虑发展或其他因素（例如，结构重叠）是否可以解释已确定的横截面相关性的问题。未来的研究需要对完美主义测试焦虑关联提供更细微的见解。