KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS) 2981-2526 7 Serial Number 47 2026 07 10 The Relationship Between Maladaptive Perfectionism and Academic Burnout with Students’ Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Spiritual Intelligence The Relationship Between Maladaptive Perfectionism and Academic Burnout with Students’ Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Spiritual Intelligence 1 11 10.61838/ EN Journal Article 2025 01 07 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and academic burnout with students’ mental health through the mediating role of spiritual intelligence.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials: </strong>This study was conducted using a descriptive-correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all high school students in Tehran during the 2025–2026 academic year. A total of 412 students were selected through multistage cluster random sampling. Data were collected using the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey, General Health Questionnaire-28, and Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using SPSS-27 software, and structural equation modeling was performed using AMOS-24. The significance of indirect effects was examined using the bootstrap method.</p> <p><strong>Findings: </strong>The findings demonstrated that maladaptive perfectionism had a significant positive relationship with academic burnout (r = 0.51, p &lt; 0.01) and mental health problems (r = 0.58, p &lt; 0.01). Academic burnout was also positively associated with mental health problems (r = 0.61, p &lt; 0.01). In contrast, spiritual intelligence showed significant negative relationships with maladaptive perfectionism (r = -0.46, p &lt; 0.01), academic burnout (r = -0.49, p &lt; 0.01), and mental health problems (r = -0.55, p &lt; 0.01). Structural equation modeling indicated that maladaptive perfectionism directly predicted mental health problems (β = 0.37, p &lt; 0.001), while academic burnout also had a significant direct effect on mental health problems (β = 0.41, p &lt; 0.001). Spiritual intelligence significantly mediated the relationships between maladaptive perfectionism, academic burnout, and mental health. The proposed model demonstrated acceptable fit indices (χ²/df = 2.31, CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.057).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that maladaptive perfectionism and academic burnout are important psychological risk factors negatively influencing students’ mental health, whereas spiritual intelligence serves as a protective psychological resource that reduces emotional distress and improves psychological well-being.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jayps/article/download/5367/9796