Exploration of vulnerability factors of digital hoarding behavior among university students and the moderating role of maladaptive perfectionism.

In light of the rapidly evolving digital landscape, there is an increasing need to explore digital hoarding behavior. This need is driven by concerns regarding its intricate psychological foundations and its impact on individuals within our technology-centric society. This research investigates the influence of various factors, including the fear of missing out, emotional attachment, information overload, and decision fatigue, on digital hoarding behaviors among university students in Iran. Additionally, the study examines the moderating role of maladaptive perfectionism in these relationships. The study involved 275 university students (mean age = 21.62 years; standard deviation = 2.28 years; 65.6% female) selected from four universities in Iran. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that the fear of missing out, emotional attachment, information overload, and decision fatigue significantly predict university students' digital hoarding behavior. Moreover, the findings highlighted the moderating effect of maladaptive perfectionism on the association between emotional attachment and digital hoarding behavior. This suggests that individuals with higher levels of maladaptive perfectionism exhibit amplified digital hoarding tendencies when emotionally attached to their digital data. This study provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between psychological factors and digital hoarding tendencies. These findings have practical implications for educational institutions and mental health professionals, as they can help in developing targeted strategies and interventions to manage digital hoarding behavior in university freshmen and promote healthier digital habits.

A preliminary investigation of the mediating roles of self-compassion and emotion dysregulation in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive behaviors.

INTRODUCTION: Recent research has highlighted an association between maladaptive perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The primary aim of this preliminary study was to investigate whether self-compassion and emotion dysregulation independently mediated this relationship. The secondary aim was to determine whether serial mediation existed between these factors. Whether these relations held for overall obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, versus distinct dimensions of OCD, was also of interest. METHOD: Three hundred and ninety-two university students (Mage = 21.81, SD = 8.01), predominantly female (79.18%), participated in an online questionnaire that included a dimensional measure of OCD. Scales assessing maladaptive perfectionism, self-compassion, emotion dysregulation, and negative emotion states were also included. RESULTS: Greater maladaptive perfectionism was related to more severe OCD. Emotion dysregulation, but not self-compassion, independently mediated this relationship. A serial mediation relationship was found, in that greater maladaptive perfectionism was associated with lower self-compassion, which was linked to greater emotion dysregulation, and in turn related to more severe OC behaviors. In addition, distinct patterns emerged for separate OC dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight emotion regulation and self-compassion as potential targets for OCD prevention, especially in individuals with symptoms in the symmetry and unacceptable thoughts dimensions.

When perfectionists adopt health behaviors: perfectionism and self-efficacy as determinants of health behavior, anxiety and depression.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to show interrelations between self-efficacy, perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive), health behavior, and mental health outcomes such as anxiety and depression as an exponent in maintaining optimal health. In the analyses, we focused on one category of health behaviors - preventive practices.: participants and procedure: Of the gathered data, 295 complete datasets were analyzed (age: M = 28.16, SD = 9.41; 72.8% participants female). We proposed two path models with personality traits (as exogenous variables) and health behaviors (as endogenous variables) in predicting depression and anxiety. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis revealed that maladaptive perfectionism and generalized self-efficacy significantly predicted health behaviors in general and mental health outcomes whereas adaptive perfectionism and generalized self-efficacy were significant predictors of preventive practices. The path analyses showed that generalized self-efficacy and perfectionism are related directly to mental health outcomes as well as indirectly, through health behaviors. Interestingly, we found a negative indirect effect of an interaction between generalized self-efficacy and preventive practices as well as of an interaction between adaptive perfectionism and preventive practices on mental health outcomes. The model fitted well with the data. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that a balanced and more holistic approach to maintaining health is beneficial for people high in self-efficacy in comparison with high focus on disease prevention. Additionally, the results demonstrate that adaptive perfectionists and people high in self-efficacy may also be prone to anxiety and depression (not just maladaptive perfectionists) when their health focus is too narrow.

The Association between Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Perfectionism in Adolescence: The Role of Mental Disorders.

Previous evidence has drawn attention to the fact that maladaptive perfectionism is a risk factor for engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Until now, few studies have examined this topic, especially among community adolescents. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perfectionism dimensions and NSSI functions to examine the potential mediating effect of mental disorders. Altogether, 146 Hungarian community adolescents (ages 13-18 years) were involved. All participants completed the Hungarian adaptation of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS), the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS), and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Kid. To analyse the interrelationships among NSSI, perfectionism, and mental disorders, we conducted regression and network analysis. Of the 146 adolescents, 90 (61.64%, girls: 71.11%) engaged in NSSI. The Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Action scales of the FMPS significantly and positively predicted both NSSI intrapersonal and interpersonal motivation, with comparable effect sizes, and this association was fully mediated by anxiety disorders. There was a significant direct negative relationship between the FMPS Organisation dimension and both main NSSI functions. This study draws attention to an increasing trend and the extremely high NSSI prevalence rate among community adolescents. Adolescents with perfectionistic concerns are at heightened risk for anxiety disorders, which can increase their vulnerability to NSSI engagement.

A randomized controlled trial of group CBT with positive psychotherapy intervention for university students with maladaptive perfectionism in China.

Objective: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial was to find a more economical and feasible intervention for maladaptive perfectionism, which is a risk and maintenance mechanism for various psychopathologies. Methods: In total, 64 university students who met the total inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either group CBT with positive psychotherapy intervention or a 16-week waitlist (WL). The intervention group received 2 h of therapy for eight weekly sessions. Measurements of maladaptive perfectionism and the symptoms of depression and anxiety were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the scores of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale between the intervention group and the waitlist group at baseline (all p > 0.05). The intervention group had a significant main effect of time and a time × group interaction effect of the maladaptive aspects of perfectionism, Concern over Mistakes and Doubts about Actions, and depression and anxiety scores in comparison with the waitlist group at the post-intervention and 8-week follow-up and had no statistically significant effects on the scores for Personal Standards, Parental Expectation, and Parental Criticism. The analysis showed that group intervention reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety while reducing maladaptive aspects of perfectionism. Conclusion: This study added to the literature on CBT interventions for maladaptive perfectionism and indicated that group CBT with positive psychotherapy intervention had substantial long-term effects on the maladaptive perfectionism of university students in China. Moreover, the results indicated that the intervention increased participants' self-acceptance.

The relationship between moral judgment ability, parenting style, and perfectionism in obsessive-compulsive disorder patients: A mediating analysis.

Introduction: Guilt is an important part of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The abnormal moral cognition of obsessive-compulsive disorder patients may be closely related to their high level of guilt. The purpose of this study was to explore the development level of moral judgment in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and the role of parenting style and perfectionism in moral judgment development. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the clinical psychology department of a Class III hospital in Beijing. The patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder were recruited, and the healthy control subjects were recruited at the same time. Questionnaires were used to collect data, including the Yale-Brown Compulsion Scale, the Moral Judgment Test, the Parenting Style Evaluation Scale, and the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. Result: A total of 231 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder and 246 healthy controls were included. The results showed that, first, the obsessive-compulsive group scored significantly lower on moral judgment than the healthy control group. Second, the tendency of non-adaptive perfectionism was significantly higher in the obsessive-compulsive group than in the healthy control group. Third, parents' excessive control, denial, punishment, and other parenting styles and non-adaptive perfectionism are higher than those of healthy people. Fourthly, the mother of obsessive-compulsive disorder patients is overly interference and protective. Rejection, denial, punishment, harshness, and father's rejection and denial play a partial mediating role in moral judgment ability through the degree of non-adaptive perfectionism. Conclusion: The development level of moral judgment ability of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder was significantly lower than that of the normal group, and the level of non-adaptive perfectionism was significantly higher than that of the normal group. Parents of obsessive-compulsive patients use more high-pressure control education. Parenting style partially affects the moral judgment of obsessive-compulsive patients through the degree of non-adaptive perfectionism.

Feedback-related negativity in perfectionists: An index of performance outcome evaluation.

It has been suggested that maladaptive perfectionists are more prone to concern over their performance outcomes than adaptive perfectionists. Performance outcome evaluation is reflected in the amplitude of feedback-related negativity (FRN) in brain electroencephalography (EEG). Hence, the amplitude of the FRN after receiving unfavorable feedback indicating a negative performance outcome may reflect personality characteristics. In other words, EEG could be a better marker of personality characteristics than self-report measures. However, the FRN component has not yet been investigated between different types of perfectionists. In the present study, group differences in the FRN were examined between two groups of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionists and a group of non-perfectionists during a monetary gambling task. We observed a larger FRN amplitude for adaptive perfectionists than for maladaptive perfectionists. This finding is consistent with previous reports that reward prediction error is reflected in the amplitude of the FRN. This difference in FRN could be interpreted as the pessimistic outcome expectation biases in maladaptive perfectionists.

Differences between U23 and older semi-professional soccer players in perfectionism and passion: exploring determinant relationship between variables.

Aim: Abundant studies have pointed out that perfectionism and passion are interrelated and that they both can influence performance in a variety of contexts, including sports, however, research on how these variables interact and might affect performance in team sports, such as soccer, is still scarce. The aim of this study is to analyze differences in perfectionism and passion between under-23 years-old (U23) and older semi-professional soccer players, as well as to study the possible relationship between these two psychological variables. Methods: Participants (N = 130 healthy semi-professional Spanish soccer players) were divided into two equivalent groups according to the participants age, U23 (N = 65; 21.58 ± 1.91 years) and older than 24 years (N = 65; 30.03 ± 3.72 years) and completed self-reports on perfectionism and passion. Results: Independent samples t-test determined significant differences between the U23 Group and the >24 Group in perfectionism global score and concern over mistakes (maladaptive perfectionism), and in time, value, and passion. Multiple regression analyses revealed that obsessive passion predicted maladaptive subdimensions of perfectionism, while harmonious passion predicted adaptive perfectionism. Discussion: U23 soccer players show higher levels of maladaptive perfectionism, time, value, and passion in relation with soccer than older players, probably because at this stage pressure to become professionals and to develop their technical, tactical, and physical skills is higher than in later stages. Conclusion: Identifying differences between different age groups can help professionals in tailoring their interventions and strategies to address the specific needs of athletes at different stages of development more effectively, and to optimize mental focus, reduce stress, to promote a healthy mindset for optimal performance in soccer players, furthermore, the study of moderating effects of factors such as team dynamics or coaching styles on these constructs is advised.

Resilience and positive coping style affect the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination among Chinese undergraduate nursing students.

Background: Previous studies have not investigated the role of resilience and coping style on the association between maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination among nursing undergraduates. However, how to mobilize the learning enthusiasm of nursing students and reduce the incidence of academic procrastination is an important factor to reduce nursing loss and improve nursing quality. Objectives: To investigate the influence of maladaptive perfectionism, resilience and coping style on academic procrastination among Chinese undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A convenience sampling method was used to select 665 nursing undergraduates from March to May 2022 in China. Maladaptive perfectionism, coping style, resilience, and academic procrastination were measured using questionnaires. The descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis and the Hayes' PROCESS Macro in SPSS 25.0 were used to test the model. Results: The results showed that nursing undergraduates' maladaptive perfectionism, resilience, positive coping style and academic procrastination were significantly correlated between every two variables, with coefficients ranging between -0.290 and 0.584. In addition, resilience played a partial mediating role in maladaptive perfectionism and academic procrastination, accounting for 15.70% of the total effect; in the meantime, this process was moderated by positive coping style. Conclusion: Maladaptive perfectionism positively predicted nursing undergraduates' academic procrastination; as a mediating mechanism with moderating, resilience and positive coping style further explained how maladaptive perfectionism promoted the academic procrastination of nursing undergraduates. Understanding this mechanism is of great significance for nursing educators to reduce the risk of academic procrastination in nursing undergraduates.

"I must be perfect": The role of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the competitive anxiety of Hungarian athletes.

In this study the influence of irrational beliefs and perfectionism on the emergence of competitive anxiety was investigated. While previous studies indicate that higher irrational beliefs predict greater competitive anxiety, in the present study it is hypothesized that this relationship is mediated by perfectionism. A serial atemporal multiple mediation analysis revealed that both adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism were significant partial mediators between irrational beliefs and competitive anxiety. The total score and all four subscale scores on irrational beliefs had both direct and indirect effects on cognitive competitive anxiety, the latter effects mediated by both forms of perfectionism. Depreciation beliefs had a direct effect, and demandingness and awfulizing had indirect effects, on somatic competitive anxiety when both forms of perfectionism were entered as mediators. These findings suggest that both irrational beliefs and perfectionism influence the emergence of competitive anxiety, therefore rational emotive behavioral therapy with a focus upon perfectionism may be an effective means of reducing competitive anxiety in athletes.

Risk factors in body image dissatisfaction: gender, maladaptive perfectionism, and psychological wellbeing.

Discontent with one's appearance (body image dissatisfaction) has become a global phenomenon, associated with the development of extreme behaviours in order to correct perceived body image problems. Much of the literature has focused on associated destructive behaviours that result from body image dissatisfaction; however, there has been a dearth of research examining risk factors for body image problems in adults. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate risk factors associated with adult body image problems, focusing on two variables highlighted in the literature (gender and maladaptive perfectionism). The current study (1) compared gender differences in body image dissatisfaction and (2) investigated psychological wellbeing as a mediator between maladaptive perfectionism and body image dissatisfaction. The sample included 139 Australian adults from universities (55.7%) and the community (44.3%). Participants completed demographic questions, the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Psychological Wellbeing questionnaire, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In contrast to predictions, females had higher body area satisfaction and appearance evaluation scores. Furthermore, in line with the hypotheses, psychological wellbeing fully mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and poor body image. The findings suggest gender, maladaptive perfectionism, and psychological wellbeing may act as risk factors for body image dissatisfaction.

Maladaptive perfectionism, daily hassles, and depressive symptoms among first-year college students in China.

Objective: Attending college involves a stressful period of adaptation for many first-year college students. The aim of the current study was to better understand the relationship among maladaptive perfectionism, daily hassles, and depressive symptoms. Participants: The sample comprised 454 Chinese first-year college students. Methods: All participants completed a battery of questionnaires including the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised, the Chinese College Student Psychological Stress Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Conflicts with roommates, forming the bad habits, and difficulties in learning were the top three stressful daily hassles. Maladaptive perfectionism predicts daily hassles, which in turn predicts depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Maladaptive perfectionism asserts its effects on depressive symptoms of first-year college students experiencing minor events on a daily basis. Implications for school educators and counselors and directions of future research are also discussed.

Perfectionism, Resilience and Different Ways of Experiencing Sport during COVID-19 Confinement.

The relationship between sports practice and physical and mental health became an important issue during the COVID-19 pandemic, where keeping fit and exercising was one of the best and most popular ways to cope with the confinement situation. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between perfectionism and resilient resources with psychological well-being, differentiating sports category, gender and experience in a sample of athletes during confinement in different countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. An incidental and cross-sectional random sampling method was designed (n = 583). The sample was analysed with three different instruments, evaluating perfectionism, resilience and psychological well-being patterns and comparing three groups with different levels of practice due to confinement (full reduction, moderate reduction and only access restrictions). Results show that both male and senior athletes were more organized, resistant to changes and focused their attention and efforts on their demands and potential. They were stimulated by obstacles that required more effort compared to U23, who reported higher concerns and lower organisational scores. Athletes who completely interrupted their sports dynamics showed higher indicators of perfectionism and performed worse in resilience and well-being. Despite this, age and the variability of the athletes' experiences proved to be relevant factors in an athlete's trajectory, and continued to represent a certain degree of balance in the face of COVID-19.

Maladaptive perfectionism and adolescent NSSI: A moderated mediation model of psychological distress and mindfulness.

OBJECTIVES: Maladaptive perfectionism has been shown to be associated with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents. Based on the functional model of self-injury, we predicted that this association is due to the mediating effect of psychological distress. We also tested the assumption that being mindful-that is, being able to accept rather than escape the psychological distress-would be a protective factor in this process. METHODS: Eight hundred and forty-one Chinese adolescents completed online questionnaires concerning maladaptive perfectionism, psychological distress, mindfulness, and NSSI. RESULTS: Regression-based analyses showed that maladaptive perfectionism predicted adolescents' NSSI through the indirect effect of psychological distress. Mindfulness weakened the indirect effect. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that self-injury serves a function in emotion regulation and the communication of distress. The results also have implications for practice: Maladaptive perfectionism should be assessed as a risk factor for NSSI, and teaching mindfulness may be an effective intervention for adolescents who engage in this high-risk behavior.

A Moderation Analysis of Perfectionism, Cultural Sensitivity, and Counselors-In-Training Attitudes Toward Non-Dominant Sexual Identities.

The purpose of this study was to explore the moderating effect of maladaptive perfectionism on the relationship between cultural sensitivity and counselors-in-training attitudes toward non-dominant sexual identities. A total of 209 counseling graduate students participated in the study. Results showed that cultural sensitivity predicted attitudes toward individuals who identify with a non-dominant sexual identity after controlling for age. Also, a regression analysis demonstrated that maladaptive perfectionism is a moderator in the relationship between cultural sensitivity and attitudes toward individuals who identify with a non-dominant sexual identity among counselors-in-trainings. Implications in the counseling and education field and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The Influence of Parental Perfectionism and Parenting Styles on Child Perfectionism.

Perfectionism is a significant transdiagnostic process related to the development and maintenance of several psychological disorders. The main models of the development of perfectionism focus on early childhood experiences and postulate that parental relation is an important factor for understanding this construct in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between child and parental perfectionism, seeking to evaluate the empirical support of the Social Learning Model and the Social Expectations Model and children's perception of parenting styles. The present study included 119 children (51.2% girls, Mage = 11.67 years) and their parents. Data were collected through administration of several self-report measures. The results show a relationship between the majority of the same parent and child perfectionism dimensions, thus providing supportive evidence for the Social Learning Model. Concerning the analysis of the role of gender in the transmission of perfectionism, observed fathers' perfectionism only relates with the sons' perfectionism, and mothers' perfectionism relates with daughters' perfectionism. Our findings allow for a deeper understanding of the role of the perception of an authoritarian parenting style in the development of maladaptive perfectionism. Mother and fathers' perceived parenting styles contribute more to daughter than son perfectionism. The results contribute to expanding the understanding of the role of parental factors in the development of perfectionism.

Maladaptive Perfectionism and Internet Addiction among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression and Gender.

The association between perfectionism and addictive behaviors has been examined in previous literature; however, few pieces of research have investigated the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship. Using a sample of 2016 Chinese college students, the present study examined the mediator of depression between maladaptive perfectionism and Internet addiction and the moderator of gender in such associations. The findings indicated that maladaptive perfectionism was directly related to students' Internet addiction and indirectly predicted students' Internet addiction via the mediator of depression. Gender moderated the direct effect, rather than the indirect effect, of maladaptive perfectionism on Internet addiction. Even though males reported a lower score on Internet addiction compared to females, the effect of maladaptive perfectionism on Internet addiction was stronger for males than for females. These findings revealed the psychological mechanisms from perfectionism to Internet addiction, which contributed to the theoretical development in addiction research and provided implications for interventions to reduce Internet addiction among Chinese college students.

The relations between childhood experience of negative parenting practices and nonsuicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents: The mediating roles of maladaptive perfectionism and rumination.

BACKGROUND: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a highly prevalent and serious public health concern among adolescents worldwide, and family experiences are influential in its development. However, the potential mediating mechanisms underlying the relations between childhood experience of negative parenting practices and NSSI are not fully understood. This study tested a mediating model to examine the roles of maladaptive perfectionism and rumination in these relations. METHODS: A total of 5,619 Chinese adolescents (54.7 % males; mean age = 15.92 years, SD = 0.73) participated in this study and completed self-report measures of negative parenting practices, maladaptive perfectionism, rumination, and NSSI. RESULTS: There were significant positive correlations among negative parenting practices, maladaptive perfectionism, rumination, and NSSI. In the mediation analyses, all negative parenting practices were indirectly related to NSSI via maladaptive perfectionism, while rumination only mediated the relation of maternal overprotection to NSSI. In addition, among all negative parenting practices, maternal rejection was the most closely associated with maladaptive perfectionism. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study expand our understanding of the influences of negative parenting practices on NSSI. Clinicians may pay special attention to maternal rejection and focus on adolescents' maladaptive perfectionism and rumination when interacting with individuals with NSSI.

Does Perfectionism Lead to Well-Being? The Role of Flow and Personality Traits.

Perfectionism is a personality trait that plays an important role in understanding human behavior and functioning. There has been a focus on the negative aspects and outcomes of perfectionism, and less is known about whether and how perfectionism relates to adaptive characteristics of personality and normal functioning. We investigated associations between different aspects of perfectionism and psychological well-being in two studies by determining the role of dispositional flow and personality traits in this relationship. In Study 1, participants completed questionnaires for perfectionism, psychological well-being and flow. In Study 2, personality traits from the HEXACO model of personality were additionally measured. We found that psychological well-being had a positive correlation with conscientious perfectionism and a negative correlation with self-evaluative perfectionism. Flow mediates the relationship between conscientious perfectionism and psychological well-being. There was no correlation between self-evaluative perfectionism and dispositional flow. After controlling for relevant personality traits, dispositional flow remains the mediator between conscientious perfectionism and psychological well-being, but the relation becomes negative. Implications for the understanding of how different components of perfectionism are related to psychological well-being and how flow experience contributes to this relationship are discussed.

Associations Between Maladaptive Perfectionism and Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Undergraduate Medical Students: The Mediating Role of Academic Burnout and the Moderating Role of Self-Esteem.

Empirical research has shown that maladaptive perfectionism may lead to lower life satisfaction. However, the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and life satisfaction among medical students and the mechanism underlying this relationship still need to be further explored. The present study used a large sample of undergraduate medical students to examine the associations between maladaptive perfectionism and life satisfaction and to explore the mechanism underlying the associations. Specifically, the present study tried to probe the mediating role of academic burnout and the moderating role of self-esteem in the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and life satisfaction in medical students. We invited 1628 undergraduate medical students from two medical universities in Northeastern China to participate in the survey. Among the students recruited, 1377 medical students (response rate: 84.6%) completed questionnaires including the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) maladaptive perfectionism subscales, the Chinese College Student Academic Burnout Inventory (CCSABI), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and demographic information. Results show that maladaptive perfectionism was significantly negatively related to life satisfaction among medical students and academic burnout played a significant mediating role (ß = -0.10, BCa 95%CI: -0.12, -0.07) in this relationship. Moderated mediation analyses reveal that the mediating effect of maladaptive perfectionism on life satisfaction via academic burnout was moderated by self-esteem. Maladaptive perfectionism exerted a stronger effect on life satisfaction via the mediating role of academic burnout for medical students with high self-esteem [ß = -0.026, SE = 0.009, 95%CI = (-0.047, -0.011)] than for medical students with low self-esteem [ß = -0.019, SE = 0.009, 95%CI = (-0.038, -0.001)]. Medical institutions can implement effective interventions to decrease medical students' maladaptive perfectionism levels and academic burnout levels, and increase their self-esteem levels in order to enhance their life satisfaction.