Author(s): SHIKANAI, N., Institution: ASIA UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1370

Background
Perfectionism is a multifaceted construct that is associated with high levels of achievement and psychological vulnerability. Participants in aesthetic sports and performing arts are frequently evaluated for their technical precision and physical form. However, empirical evidence comparing perfectionism and anxiety between this population and general university students is scarce.

Purpose
This study aims to compare levels of perfectionism and anxiety among female university students, specifically between those who participate in aesthetic sports and performing arts and those who do not. Associations between perfectionism and state and trait anxiety were further examined within the aesthetic sports and performing arts group.

Methods
Participants were 34 female general university students (mean age = 20.53 years) and 24 female university students actively engaged in aesthetic sports and performing arts (e.g., classical ballet, dance, gymnastics, and figure skating; mean age = 20.29 years). One participant who had been diagnosed with an eating disorder was excluded from the analysis. Perfectionism was assessed using the New Perfectionism Scale (Sakurai & Otani, 1997), and anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Independent-sample t-tests were conducted for group comparisons, and Pearson correlations were calculated within the aesthetic sports and performing arts group.

Results
Students in aesthetic sports and performing arts demonstrated significantly higher total perfectionism scores (M = 91.33, SD = 8.14) than general students (M = 63.62, SD = 6.16), t(56) = -14.07, p < .001, Cohen’s d = 3.94. No significant group differences were found in state or trait anxiety. Within the aesthetic sports and performing arts group, perfectionism showed a moderate positive association with state anxiety (r = .35, p = .09), indicating a trend toward statistical significance, whereas no significant association was observed with trait anxiety (r = .06, p = .78).

Conclusions
Female university students who actively participated in aesthetic sports and performing arts exhibited markedly elevated perfectionistic tendencies compared to their general peers. Elevated perfectionism does not necessarily correspond to higher baseline anxiety. However, its association with state anxiety suggests that perfectionistic traits may become particularly salient in evaluative or performance-related situations. These findings advance the understanding of psychological characteristics in performance-oriented environments and may inform context-sensitive psychological support.