Browsing by Subject "Perfectionism"
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item An exploration of stress, job satisfaction, individual teacher and school factors among Teach For America teachers(2016-05) Reiser, Jenson Elizabeth; McCarthy, Christopher J.; Rochlen, AaronCurrent research suggests that the attrition rate for novice teachers continues to rise and that chronic stress plays a significant role (Ingersoll, 2001; Klassen & Chiu, 2011). While stress in educational settings is widely acknowledged, specific factors contributing to teacher stress are not well understood (McCarthy, Lambert, O’Donnell, & Melendres, 2009). To address this gap in the literature, data were collected from 51 novice teachers (Teach For America corps members and alumni; mean years’ teaching experience = 2.04) to explore vulnerability to stress, job satisfaction, preventive coping resources, perfectionism, and school context (charter vs. district). Results demonstrated that this sample of teachers reported higher than average demands and stress levels, and lower than average levels of classroom resources. Data also suggested higher levels of preventive coping were related to lower perceptions of classroom demands and lower perfectionism scores. Additionally, higher levels of perfectionism were related to lower perceptions of classroom resources. Participants were classified into groups (Resource, Demand, & Balance) based on scores on perceptions of classroom demands and resources. Membership in the Demand group exceeded average numbers found in previous studies. Preventive coping did not differ significantly between members of the Demand group and non-members of the Demand group, though the Demand group had significantly higher perfectionism and significantly lower job satisfaction scores. Finally, while differences in perceived demands were not significantly different by school context, teachers at charter schools showed significantly higher perceived resources. These findings highlight the need to provide a more complex understanding of factors placing novice teachers at risk for occupational stress and could inform decisions on how best to support them.Item Autoethnography of Paint Talks: Questioning the beautiful collision between visual communication and fundamentalist christian churches(2008-08) Mereness, Kent Landon; Heuman, Amy N.; Williams, David E.; Gring, Mark A.The purpose of the following thesis is to perform an autoethnographic study of artists in Fundamentalist Christian churches through the lens of Paint Talks—a Christian performance painting ministry. It aims to create conversation among scholars concerning the role of autoethnography, faith, and visual communication in the field of Communication Studies, as well as provide therapy for the Fundamentalist Christian—especially the Fundamentalist Christian artist. The following narrative is personal—in it, I record the events of one Paint Talks performance, one calendar day spent at my grandparent's West Texas farm, and my search for a response to one BIG (Goodall, 2000) question about communication, art, and faith: “What is the role of the artist in the Fundamentalist Christian Church?” I answer this question through a series of smaller questions, namely, “Does Autoethnography choose us?”, “What is the relationship between Fundamentalism, perfectionism, and legalism?”, “Am I being true to myself as an artist and a Christian through Paint Talks?”, and, “Why are Paint Talks accepted in the Fundamentalist Christian church?” Returning to the place where much of my worldview and many of my communicative and artistic skills were formed, journaling through each step of the Paint Talks process (calling, canvas, image, performance, painting), and writing autoethnographically about my experience, I discover an absence concerning tensions of faith in contemporary autoethnographies, record the paralyzing affects of legalism and perfectionism in the life of a Fundamentalist Christian artist, find out that I am usually, but not always, true to myself as an artist and a Christian through Paint Talks, and affirm that Paint Talks performances are accepted in Fundamentalist Christian churches primarily because they speak a clear, Fundamentalist Christian message. Ultimately, and most of all, I discover that the role of the artist in the Fundamentalist Christian Church is to communicate truth, and that the Fundamentalist Christian artist is reaching out for a supportive Christian community. It is important to note, however, that the discoveries of this thesis are not final—they are emergent.Item Parental contributions to perfectionism, depressive symptoms, and perceived social support in Asian American adolescents : investigation, intervention, and evaluation(2011-08) Wan, Judith T.; Borich, Gary D.; Cawthon, Stephanie W.The purpose of the study is to examine the influence of parental contributions to perfectionism on depressive symptoms for Asian American adolescents and whether perceived parental support and/or social support may buffer/moderate the relationship. Perceived support from parents and peers may serve as protective factors from experiencing distress associated with the high pressures experienced by Asian Americans to succeed academically and be perfect in school. Asian American adolescents will fill out self-report measures for dimensions of perfectionism, depressive symptoms, and perceived parental and social support. Multiple regressions will be used to test the hypothesis of this study. Implications for the proposed study suggested the development of an intervention to help cultivate coping skills related to parent-driven stress for Asian American adolescents.Item Perfectionism and Its Relationship to Racial Identity, Satisfaction with Life, Stress and Coping(2010-10-12) Heads, AngelaThe study of perfectionism has grown over the past few years with most of the interest focused on the relationship between perfectionism and psychological functioning. Although the literature on perfectionism has continued to increase, the study of the impact of cultural differences on perfectionism and psychological functioning has been understudied. This study examines the relationships between racial identity, perfectionism and satisfaction of life along with other factors that may mediate this relationship such as coping style and stress. A multicultural model of the stress process posited by Slavin, Rainer, et al. (1991) provides a basis for examining the importance of cultural influences on perfectionism. 122 African American women were recruited via university organization listservs and email lists and through direct contact with university professors to complete surveys on perfectionism, life satisfaction, stress and coping. Analysis of data indicated that individuals in the pre-encounter status of racial identity reported lower satisfaction with life. This finding is consistent with prior studies. Findings also included a significant positive relationship (p<.05) between internalization status of racial identity and socially prescribed perfectionism. Additionally emotion oriented coping was found to fully mediate the relationship between socially oriented perfectionism and satisfaction with life (Z=-1.9722, p<.05). These findings highlight the relevance of cultural factors when considering assessment and intervention strategies for African American women. Additionally the significant contribution of coping style to life satisfaction gives guidance in how to intervene with clients in a clinical setting. The findings suggest that reducing the reliance on emotion oriented coping strategies may be important in improving life satisfaction in African American women.Item Positive perfectionism, a wolf in sheep's clothing : considerations for school counselors working with adolescents(2011-05) Lenington, Mary Beth; Rude, Stephanie Sandra; Neff, KristinThis paper reviews the concept of positive perfectionism as a misnomer that negatively impacts adolescent students. The author acknowledges that the majority of research relative to perfectionism points to a multidimensional orientation of this construct. Often multidimensionality has been used to indicate that perfectionism has both positive and negative applications for individuals (DiBartolo, Li, & Frost, 2008). Primarily a deleterious construct, perfectionism has been strongly associated with psychopathology. The author would like to offer perfectionism as a multidimensional construct that is ultimately maladaptive and harmful. Additionally, the author recommends replacing the term positive perfectionism with the more accurate concept of striving for excellence. This literature review is intended to offer educators, specifically school counselors, insight toward identifying and helping adolescents struggling with perfectionism and well-being.Item The relationship between self-compassion and disordered eating behaviors : body dissatisfaction, perfectionism, and contingent self-worth as mediators(2011-12) Finley-Straus, Angela Danielle; Neff, Kristin; Bigler, Rebecca; Drum, Dave; Falbo, Toni; Rochlen, AaronThe concept of self-compassion has been gathering interest for researchers in recent years, as it appears to offer an array of benefits to wellbeing. This study investigated the potential role of self-compassion as a protective factor against disordered eating behaviors. It also examined the mediating roles of three potential variables: body dissatisfaction, perfectionism and contingent self-worth. Given modern representations of the female ideal, failure to achieve or adequately conform to such standards often poses psychological challenges for women and girls. Self-compassion encompasses kind, mindful self-treatment and may be an ideal protective factor against disordered eating. It has also been linked with lower body dissatisfaction, maladaptive perfectionism, and contingent self-worth. The present study found that dissatisfaction with one’s body, as well as a tendency to judge one’s personal worth based on appearance fully mediated the relationship between self-compassion and both restrained and emotional disordered eating respectively. Therefore, a self-compassionate attitude may serve as a protective factor against engaging in disordered eating vis-à-vis strengthening young women’s abilities to look at their bodies in a more compassionate and unconditionally accepting way.