Positive and Negative Perfectionism, and Academic Performance: Mediating Role of Identity Style and Identity Commitment

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of identity style and identity commitment on the relationship between positive and negative perfectionism and academic performance. A sample of two hundred and seventy-three unpaid students (135 females and 138 males), aged between 14 and 18 years old (15.77±1.01 years), were selected randomly through multi-stage sampling method in Amol, Iran. All participants were asked to complete the Identity Style Inventory (ISI-3), and Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (PANPS). The grade-point average of students was an objective index for academic performance. Using path analysis, the results showed that positive perfectionism had positive direct effect on informative and normative identity styles, identity commitment, and academic performance. However, its direct effect on diffuse-avoidant identity style was negative. Negative perfectionism had positive direct effect on diffuse-avoidant identity style, and negative direct effect on informative identity style and identity commitment. Positive perfectionism, via mediating the informational, normative and diffuse-avoidant identity styles and commitment, had positive effect on academic performance. Negative perfectionism, via mediating the informative and diffuse-avoidant identity styles and commitment, had negative effect on academic performance.