Latent Profiles of Perfectionism and Mathematics Anxiety Among University Students

Abstract

This study examined joint patterns of multidimensional perfectionism and mathematics anxiety among undergraduate students at a single university in Kosovo. A total of 429 students completed Albanian-language forms of a multidimensional perfectionism scale and a mathematics anxiety scale, the latter adapted from Turkish through a forward and backward translation procedure. The study used a cross-sectional survey design. Latent profile analysis was conducted on ten standardized indicators, namely six perfectionism dimensions and four mathematics anxiety dimensions. Model comparison, based on the Bayesian information criterion and a bootstrap likelihood-ratio test, supported a four-profile solution with equal variances and equal covariances; a local-maxima check using random starts was used to retain the maximum-likelihood solution. The first and largest profile combined low perfectionistic concerns with low anxiety and high self-confidence (n = 222). The second profile showed average perfectionism with elevated anxiety (n = 133). The third profile combined high perfectionistic concerns with high mathematics anxiety (n = 38). The fourth profile combined high perfectionistic concerns and low self-confidence with low mathematics anxiety (n = 36). Profile membership was not significantly associated with gender, age, nationality, maternal education, paternal education, or academic department. In general, most students were characterized by adaptive or moderate patterns, while two smaller subgroups showed elevated perfectionistic concerns that were expressed either with or without high mathematics anxiety. The profiles provide a foundation for tailored support in university mathematics courses.

Received: 03 March  2026 / Accepted: 29 June 2026 / Published: July  2026