Understanding the Pressure to Be Perfect Among Young Adults

Abstract

Young adults at university are expected to do well in their studies, in their social lives and in how they present themselves. This study looks at how family expectations, social media, peer comparison and the gap between the real and ideal self relate to perfectionism and emotional strain. We surveyed 101 university students (95.05% undergraduates) using a convenience sample. Most respondents (74.26%) said their families hold high achievement standards, and 54.46% felt directly pressured to meet them. On social media, 52.48% said they compare their lifestyle with others, 70.30% felt pushed to do better after seeing other people's carefully presented profiles, and 71.29% believed they had to outperform peers to feel valued. In addition, 58.42% held themselves to strict standards, 74.26% felt stressed when they missed their own targets, and 61.39% often felt a gap between who they are and who they think they should be. A chi-square test found no significant association between social media comparison and the size of this gap. The study is descriptive and cannot show cause and effect, but the results suggest that many students carry a heavy load of perfectionist pressure, and that universities should consider offering accessible mental health support.