Validation of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale: Assessment of perfectionism in Spanish university students

This study presents the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS; Hewitt & Flett, 1991) after adapting it to Spanish language. The MPS has 45 items that assess three dimensions of perfectionist behaviour: self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism. The MPS and the EDI perfectionism subscale (Gamer, 1998) were administered to a sample of 356 Spanish university students (18 to 42 years old), and a subgroup (n = 276) completed retest with a 5-week gap. Results replicated the original three factor structure for perfectionism, with acceptable internal consistency, similar to the original study. Convergent validity and temporal stability coefficients were satisfactory. Two perfectionism dimensions were associated with distress, suggesting that other-oriented perfectionism has an adaptive component to it. The Spanish version of the MPS can be regarded as a reliable scale for the assessment of perfectionism among university students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)