The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Academic Burnout Among University Students in Malaysia

Saragi, Sara Uli and Chandrasekaran, Khartikka (2025) The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Academic Burnout Among University Students in Malaysia. The Relationship Between Perfectionism and Academic Burnout. (Unpublished)

Text Sara Uli Saragi RPY.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (2MB)

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between perfectionism and academic burnout among university students in Malaysia and explored potential gender differences in perfectionism levels. A total of 119 undergraduate students (69 females, 50 males) with a mean age of 21.45 years (SD = 1.52) were recruited through convenience sampling. The data were gathered through online questionnaires distributed via social media (Instagram and Facebook), messaging apps (WhatsApp), and in-person using QR codes. Participants completed the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-Brief (FMPS-B) and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory-Student (CBI-S) to assess perfectionism and academic burnout, respectively. Results showed a statistically significant but moderate positive correlation between perfectionism and academic burnout (r(119) = .40, p < .05), indicating that higher levels of perfectionism were associated with slightly higher levels of academic burnout. However, no significant gender differences were found in perfectionism levels (t(117) = .08, p = .94, d = .01). These findings suggest that while a link exists between perfectionism and academic burnout among Malaysian university students, perfectionism alone may not be the sole predictor. Other factors, such as external pressures and internal factors like self-compassion, likely contribute to this relationship. The absence of gender differences in overall perfectionism suggests that both male and female students experience these tendencies similarly, possibly due to shared environmental stressors. The study highlights the importance of considering the complex nature of the perfectionism-burnout relationship and the potential influence of cultural and contextual factors. Future research should explore these variations and the mediating roles of other variables to develop targeted interventions for students’ well-being in the Malaysian higher education context.