Perfectionistic profiles, achievement goal orientations, and academic performance among first-year university students in New Zealand

Abstract This study examined the associations between perfectionism, achievement goal orientations, and academic performance among 1,028 first-year university students in New Zealand. Using latent profile analysis, four distinct perfectionistic profiles were identified: (1) High-Range Mixed Perfectionists with High Family Pressure (high Personal Standards Perfectionism [PSP], high Evaluative Concerns Perfectionism [ECP]), (2) Mid-Range Mixed Perfectionists with Moderate Family Pressure (moderate PSP, moderate ECP), (3) High-Range Mixed Perfectionists with Low Family Pressure (high PSP, high ECP), and (4) Non-Perfectionists (low PSP, low ECP). Profiles characterised by moderate-to-high PSP and ECP with elevated family pressure were more likely to endorse performance-avoidance and work-avoidance goals, whereas High-Range Mixed Perfectionists with Low Family Pressure were more likely to endorse mastery-approach goals and achieved the highest academic performance. Overall, these findings extend person-centred perfectionism research by demonstrating that not only the level, but also the source of evaluative concerns is critical. Specifically, distinguishing between internally regulated and family-driven evaluative pressures provides a more nuanced understanding of how perfectionism relates to students’ motivation and academic adjustment in underrepresented educational contexts, such as New Zealand.