The structure and temporal stability of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale

O'Connor, Rory C.; Dixon, Diane; Rasmussen, Susan

Abstract

In this study, the authors examined the factor structure and temporal stability of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (CAPS; G. L. Flett, P. L. Hewitt, D. J. Boucher, L. A. Davidson, & Y. Munro, 1997) in 2 samples of adolescents (15–16 years old). In Sample 1 (n = 624), confirmatory factor analysis did not support a 2-factor structure (self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism). As in B. T. McCreary, T. E. Joiner, N. B. Schmidt, & N. S. Ialongo (2004), reanalysis suggested a 3-factor solution (i.e., socially prescribed perfectionism, self-oriented–Striving perfectionism, self-oriented–Critical perfectionism). The authors validated their 3-factor model in an independent replication sample (Sample 2; n = 514) and confirmed that the 3-factor structure was invariant across gender and time (test–retest over 6 months). Taking these analyses together, the authors concluded that their discriminant 3-factor structure is robust. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. More research on the predictive validity of the CAPS is suggested.

Citation

O'Connor, R. C., Dixon, D., & Rasmussen, S. (2009). The structure and temporal stability of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale. Psychological Assessment, 21(3), 437-443. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016264

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2009
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2023
• Journal: Psychological Assessment
• Print ISSN: 1040-3590
• Electronic ISSN: 1939-134X
• Publisher: American Psychological Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 437-443
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016264