Perfectionism and psychological well-being in adolescents with high intellectual abilities
Perfectionism and Well‑Being in Gifted Teens: What the Research Really Says
Are gifted teens more prone to perfectionism—and does it harm their mental health? A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology (July 2025) offers a nuanced answer. Researchers M. Rosa Sánchez‑Moncayo and colleagues explored how perfectionism relates to psychological well‑being in adolescents with high intellectual abilities—and whether their perfectionistic tendencies are necessarily a bad thing.
Gifted Minds, Higher Standards
The study analyzed 103 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17, comparing those with high intellectual abilities to their average‑ability peers. As expected, the high‑ability group exhibited significantly higher levels of perfectionism—but not the kind typically associated with anxiety or burnout.
Instead, these teens tended to show adaptive perfectionism—characterized by setting high personal standards and striving for excellence, without the self-criticism or fear of failure found in maladaptive perfectionism.
Perfectionism ≠ Poor Mental Health
Surprisingly, the researchers found no direct link between perfectionism and psychological well‑being. Neither adaptive nor maladaptive perfectionism appeared to significantly affect how adolescents felt about their lives. This challenges a common assumption that perfectionism—especially in gifted individuals—inevitably leads to distress or mental health issues.
Social Strengths Matter More
What did influence well‑being? Social-emotional traits. Among the high‑ability teens, those with greater self-control in social settings and a strong sense of empathy reported higher psychological well‑being. These traits were stronger predictors of positive outcomes than perfectionism itself.
What This Means for Parents and Educators
Rather than viewing perfectionism in gifted youth as a problem to be fixed, this study suggests a more balanced perspective. Encouraging healthy, high standards while nurturing emotional intelligence and social awareness may be key to supporting their mental health.
In short: perfectionism isn’t the enemy—it’s the context and coping tools that matter.
Reference: Sánchez‑Moncayo, M. R., Menacho, I., Ramiro, P., & Navarro, J. I. (2025). Perfectionism and Psychological Well‑being in Adolescents with High Intellectual Abilities. Frontiers in Psychology.
