Abstract
Background: The increasing globalization of education and the pursuit of enhanced opportunities have spurred growing interest in understanding student migration intentions. This study investigates how the positive and negative dimensions of perfectionism, in conjunction with income and gender, predict the likelihood of university students intending to migrate. This research is novel in integrating both positive and negative perfectionism with socio-demographic variables, an area underexplored in prior migration studies, particularly in a non-Western context.
Methods: This study employed a descriptive correlational design to investigate the relationships between migration intention, perfectionism, and demographic factors. The target population consisted of all students enrolled at Azad University, Shiraz Branch, during the 2023 academic year. A convenience sample of 260 students was drawn from this population. Data were collected using the Migration Intention Questionnaire and the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale. Gender and income data were also collected as demographic variables. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression.
Results: The results revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between positive perfectionism and intention to migrate (β=0.18, R²=0.34). Conversely, negative perfectionism exhibited a statistically significant negative relationship with intention to migrate (β=-0.18, P<0.001). A statistically significant positive relationship was also observed between income and intention to migrate (β=0.31, P<0.001). Gender demonstrated a statistically significant positive association with migration intention among students (β=-0.20, P<0.001). Furthermore, the regression analysis indicated that positive perfectionism, negative perfectionism, income, and gender were significant predictors of intention to migrate, collectively explaining 34% of the variance (R²=0.34).
Conclusion: Positive perfectionism fosters migration intentions, likely driven by the desire for achievement, while negative perfectionism acts as a deterrent due to fear of failure. Furthermore, higher income and gender are significantly associated with increased migration intentions, highlighting the need for holistic approaches that consider diverse motivations and contextual factors like cultural background and social networks in future research.