Do Dimensions of Perfectionism Predict Dimensions of Test Anxiety While Controlling for Depression?

Abstract

The present study examined whether cultural differences in different dimensions of perfectionism exist and whether different dimensions of perfectionism (i.e., rigid and self-critical perfectionism) predicted different dimensions of test anxiety while controlling for depression in a sample of Canadian and Singapore higher education students. In addition, culture was examined to determine whether it served as a moderator variable in the relationship between different dimensions of perfectionism and different dimensions of test anxiety. The present study was grounded in DiBartolo and Rendón’s cross-cultural framework for conducting intra- and intercultural research in the area of perfectionism. The sample for the study included 1,095 undergraduate students. Perfectionism, test anxiety, and depression measures were administered to the students online. The results of mean and covariance analyses found the perfectionism measure was invariant across Canadian and Singapore students. In addition, the results of latent mean analyses found no significant differences on the different dimensions of perfectionism between Canadian and Singapore students. The results of analyses of variance also found no significant differences in different ethnic groups on the different dimensions of perfectionism in Canada and Singapore. Furthermore, the results of five hierarchical regression analyses found self-critical perfectionism explained unique variance in the five different test anxiety dimensions while controlling for depression, and culture did not serve as a moderator variable in the relationship between the different dimensions of perfectionism and test anxiety. Implications of the findings are discussed.