Comparison of Perfectionism Between Music and Medical Students and its Association with Anxiety

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Perfection is a central goal for many musicians and health professionals. The present study compared perfectionism between music and medical students to examine whether perfectionism is adaptive or maladaptive and how it evolves during university studies. Furthermore, the association between perfectionism and anxiety was investigated in both populations to determine possible implications for mental and general health. METHODS: 110 music students (61 F, avg age 23.2 yrs) and 281 medical students (209 F, avg age 23.3 yrs) took part in the study. Perfectionism was surveyed using two multidimensional perfectionism scales and anxiety was measured using the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory. Subscales and total scores of the perfectionism scales were compared within and between groups and correlated with the anxiety measures. RESULTS: Music and medical students did not differ in their level of perfectionism. However, music students in the early semesters showed significantly (p = 0.009) stronger maladaptive perfectionism (mean 0.3, SD 1.4) than students from more senior semesters (–0.3, 1.7). Musicians from early semesters also scored higher on “parental expectations and criticism” (p = 0.04), showed more “concerns over mistakes and doubts” (p = 0.009), and perfectionism in general (p = 0.01). Analysis of the anxiety measure showed a strong correlation (rs = 0.55) between maladaptive perfectionism and anxiety for the music students. Semester and age had no influence on anxiety. Maladaptive perfectionism and adaptive perfectionism both correlated significantly with anxiety in medical students. CONCLUSION: Music and medical students had similar levels of perfectionism. Medical students maintained a consistent level of perfectionism throughout their studies, while music students were more perfectionistic at the beginning of their education. For both groups, perfectionism was significantly correlated with anxiety.