The Effect of Achievement Motivation and Perfectionism on Test Anxiety: Evidence from Purulia District Adolescents

Test anxiety remains a pervasive psychological concern that adversely affects adolescents’ academic performance and emotional well-being. This study investigates the combined effects of achievement motivation and perfectionism on test anxiety among school-going adolescents in Purulia district, West Bengal. Using a correlational research design, a stratified random sample of 516 students from classes IX and X was assessed through the Achievement Motivation Scale (Deo & Mohan, 1985), the Perfectionist Self-Presentation Scale (Hewitt et al., 2003), and the Friedben Test Anxiety Scale (Friedben & Benadas-Jacob, 1997). Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted separately for male, female, and combined groups of adolescents. Findings revealed that both maladaptive dimensions of perfectionism (e.g., non-display of imperfection, perfectionistic self-promotion) and certain facets of achievement motivation (e.g., achievement anxiety) significantly predicted higher levels of test anxiety, with variations across gender. The results underscore the intricate interplay between motivational and personality factors in shaping adolescents’ evaluative stress. These findings hold practical implications for educators, parents, and policymakers to design interventions that foster adaptive motivation while mitigating the maladaptive aspects of perfectionism, thereby promoting academic resilience.