A profile analysis investigation of perfectionism, time perspective in relation to career decision making

ABSTRACT

This study investigated perfectionism and time perspective in relation to career decision making in a sample of college students. In this sample, males were 41.8% (n = 163) and females were 58.2% (n = 227) with a mean age of 20.93 (SD = .51). In specific, perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns along with a range of time perspective subscales were analyzed to distinguish emergent personality profiles. The results supported three clusters of personality profiles: past-negative-present perfectionists, future perfectionists, and present non perfectionists. The past-negative-present group had the second highest score in career decision-making, suggesting that negative reflecting on the past and enjoyment of the moment. The future-perfectionist group reported the highest scores for all career decision-making subscales. The present non-perfectionists reported the lowest scores for all career decision-making subscales. The findings can aid professionals and psychologists in recognising personality profiles and develop career interventions through time perspective counselling.

KEYWORDS:

• Perfectionism
• time perspective
• career decision-making
• cluster analysis
• career counseling

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article its supplementary materials.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yuhsuan Chang

Yuhsuan Chang received her Ph.D. in psychology from Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA) and finished an APA-accredited internship at University of South Florida in the U.S. She is currently a Professor in the College of Management at Yuan Ze University in Taiwan. Her research and professional interests include personality assessment, perfectionism, stress and coping, career counseling, and workplace mental health promotion. Dr. Chang integrates her expertise in the development and application of personality assessment in organizations with her experience in career counseling.