On the link between perfectionism in teachers and psychological control in teaching: Does burnout play a mediating role?

Psychological control by teachers is seen as a form of control that intrudes on the feelings, goals and thoughts of pupils. Although the negative consequences are established, there is almost no research conducted on the antecedents of psychological control. Therefore, this study researched the relation between perfectionism and psychological control (N = 317). Perfectionism has been conceptualized as a personality variable in which posing high standards takes a central role, We distinguished a maladaptive form of perfectionism that results in emotional distress and social dysfunction, from a form that is relatively benign, perhaps even adaptive. In line with our hypotheses, evidence was found for the positive relation between maladaptive perfectionism and psychological control and burnout, whereas adaptive perfectionism and psychological control were unrelated. In addition, evidence was found for the partial mediating role of burnout in the relation between maladaptive perfectionism and psychological control. Burnout was conceptualized as a multidimensional psychological syndrome, existing in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment.