https://doi.org/10.4081/mw.2026.51
Perfectionism, performance pressure, and self-esteem among software professionals: a cross-sectional study
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Published: 26 June 2026
Perfectionism and performance pressure are important determinants of psychological well-being among software professionals. This study examined the relationship between perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive), performance pressure, anxiety, and self-esteem and identified factors independently associated with self-esteem. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 215 software professionals using convenience sampling. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Job-Related Tension Index, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. Self-esteem was positively associated with adaptive perfectionism (r=0.555, p<0.001) and negatively associated with maladaptive perfectionism (r=-0.307, p<0.001) and anxiety (r=-0.431, p<0.001). Performance pressure was strongly associated with anxiety (r=0.660, p<0.001) but not with self-esteem (r=0.049, p>0.05). Regression analysis showed that adaptive perfectionism and performance pressure were positively associated with self-esteem, while anxiety and maladaptive perfectionism were negatively associated with self-esteem (p<0.001). In conclusion, adaptive perfectionism is associated with higher self-esteem, whereas maladaptive perfectionism and anxiety negatively impact self-esteem.
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