Perfectionism and coping strategies among gifted high school students

Abstract

Perfectionism is increasingly being considered a prominent psychological trait among gifted high school students, with significant impacts on their overall mental health and coping abilities. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted to investigate the relationship between perfectionism and coping strategies among 158 gifted high school students in Vietnam, using the Children and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS) and the Brief-COPE. Analysis revealed a significant correlation between aspects of perfectionism and the coping strategies students employed. Specifically, socially prescribed perfectionism was a key predictor of emotion-focused and avoidance coping strategies. However, unlike in Western studies, self-oriented perfectionism did not correlate with problem-focused coping strategies in this sample. These findings suggest that perfectionism may act as a psychological risk factor, increasing vulnerability to maladaptive coping strategies in the gifted. The study has contributed initial empirical evidence for further research and recommendations for mental health care practices in schools.