The Structure and Temporal Stability of the Child and Adolescent Perfectionism Scale

Citation

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

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.

Journal
Psychological Assessment: Volume 21, Issue 3