COPING RESOURCES AS MEDIATORS OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL PERFECTIONISM AND BURNOUT

This study examined the relationship between 2 dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns) and burnout and the role that coping resources may play in mediating the relationship between these variables. Participants for this study included 235 employees from a large consulting firm in the Netherlands. The hypothesis that perfectionistic strivings would be negatively related to burnout was supported. This finding suggests that perfectionistic strivings may shield an individual from certain forms of psychological distress and be accompanied by lower burnout. The hypothesis that perfectionistic concerns would be positively related to burnout was also supported. This finding suggests that perfectionistic concerns are related to negative psychological and work consequences that may contribute to higher levels of burnout. Also as hypothesized, coping resources (cognitive restructuring and functional beliefs) mediated the relationships between both dimensions of perfectionism and burnout.