Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Hewitt & Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale-13 (H&F-MPS13)

Abstract

Introduction

H&F Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale is a widely used measure of perfectionism developed to measure Self-oriented perfectionism (SOP), Socially-prescribed perfectionism (SPP) and Other-oriented perfectionism (OOP) dimensions. The original scale comprises 45-likert items. We have previously developed a short version of The H&F-MPS, with 13 items, showing adequate validity in a sample of university students, using principal component analyses method with factors varimax rotation.

Objective

To examine the factor structure of the H&F-MPS13 with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using a different sample of Portuguese university students.

Methods

The sample comprises 245 university students (68.9% females), with a mean age of 20.95 years (SD= 2.19; range= 17–33) who completed the H&F-MPS13. CFA was used to test the model suggested by prior exploratory factor analyses of H&F-MPS13.

Results

After correlated errors, we obtained a good fit for the second-order factor (X²/d= 2.577; CFI= 0.928; GFI= 0.915, RMSEA= 0.080; P[rmsea ≤ 0.05] = 0.001). The H&F-MPS13 showed acceptable internal consistency (α= 0.77) and the three dimensions presented Cronbach's alphas ranging between acceptable and good (α OOP = 0.67; SPP = 0.73; SOP = 0.89).

Conclusions

The H&F-MPS13 obtained through CFA is a reliable and valid measure to assess perfectionism in Portuguese university students.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.