Striving for perfection in upper secondary vocational education and training? Exploring the links between students’ perfectionism and well-being

Recent research on youth has shown a rise in perfectionism and well-being challenges, especially among students on the general track of upper secondary education. Despite these trends, studies on the interplay between perfectionism and well-being within upper secondary vocational education and training, an educational track designed to prepare students with vocational qualifications for working life, is lacking. This person-oriented study investigated 1) what kinds of perfectionistic profiles can be identified among upper secondary vocational students (N = 706) and 2) whether the profiles differed in terms of well-being (engagement, exhaustion, depressive symptoms, anxiety). Four profiles were identified using latent profile analysis: concerned (31%), non-perfectionists (28%), perfectionists (23%), and ambitious (18%). Findings indicated that ambitious and perfectionists were engaged with their studies. However, the latter expressed higher exhaustion, depressive symptoms and anxiety. Students in the concerned profile also faced many challenges related to their well-being. It is noteworthy that we were able to identify various perfectionistic profiles, similar to prior studies in other educational contexts, thereby contributing to existing knowledge. This study highlights the importance of studying and understanding the relationship between perfectionism and well-being among vocational students, as they are also affected by pressures to be perfect and succeed.