PERFECTIONISTIC SELF PRESENTATION AS A PREDICTOR OF ANXIETY SENSITIVITY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between perfectionist self presentation (perfectionist self promotion, non-
display of imperfection, nondisclosure of imperfection) and anxiety sensitivity among university students. A total of
276 participants comprising 118 male and 158 female undergraduate students participated in the study. They were
between the age range of 19 – 26 with a mean age of 21.47 and a standard deviation of 1.64. They were selected
making use of available sample technique from the population of students from the Faculty of Management Sciences
and Faculty of Law, Enugu State University of Science and Technology. A 27-item Perfectionist Self-Presentation
Scale (PSPS; Hewitt et al., 2003) that assesses the stylistic personality trait which is associated with a need to
appear perfect to others and 18-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (Taylor et al., 2007) designed to assess the fear of
anxiety-related sensations and their consequences were used in the study. Correlational design was adopted for the
study while Hierarchical Multiple Regression statistics result showed that perfectionist self presentation (perfectionist
self promotion, PSP; non-display of imperfection, NDP; nondisclosure of imperfection, NDC) significantly predicted
anxiety sensitivity (PSP, r = .95, P < .01, r 2 = .90; NDP, r = .91, P < .01, r 2 = .83; NDC, r = .88, P < .01, r 2 = .77). The
findings were discussed in view of literature reviewed and recommendations were made.
Key words: Perfectionist, Self Presentation, Anxiety, Sensitivity, Imperfection