Psychological well-being, school attitudes and perfectionistic behaviors in adolescents in a mathematics talent development in Paraguay

Abstract

The Science Initiation Program with emphasis on Mathematics for Young Talents, an advanced educational enrichment program in Paraguay for the development of mathematical talent, brings talented students closer to scientific disciplines, teaching them to solve problems using logic and mathematics. To explore psychological well-being in relation to attitudes towards school and perfectionist behaviors in program participants, this descriptive-correlational research was conducted with 81 adolescents between 13 and 18 years of age (60.5% female, 39.5% male). They completed the Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adolescents (BIEPS-J); Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) and School Attitude Assessment Survey-Revised (SAAS-R) tests. Descriptive analyses, Pearson correlations, multiple linear regression analyses and ANOVAs were performed in Jamovi software. A positive relationship was found between psychological well-being and perfectionist behaviors of high standards, a negative relationship between psychological well-being and perfectionist behaviors of discrepancy, as well as a positive relationship between attitude towards school and psychological well-being. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that higher scores on high standards and lower scores on goal-achievement discrepancy can predict general psychological well-being. Thus, it is observed that this group of mathematically talented adolescents relates the pursuit of excellence with greater well-being.