Portuguese Validation of the Perfectionism Self Presentation Scale

Abstract

Introduction

Perfectionist Self Presentation represents the interpersonal expression of perfectionism wherein individuals engage in strategies that promote their supposed perfection and conceal their perceived imperfections (Hewitt et al., 2003).

Objective

To investigate the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Perfectionist Self Presentation Scale/PSPS.

Methods

Two hundred and eighty-six university students (69.2% females; mean age = 21.09 ± 2.133) answered the Portuguese preliminary version of the PSPS, and the Portuguese validated versions of: Multidimensional Perfectionism Scales, Dirty Dozen and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. To study the temporal stability, 30 participants (66.7% females) answered the PSPS again after six weeks. SPSS and MPlus were used.

Results

The PSPS Cronbach alpha was .91. The test-retest correlation coefficient was .66 (P < .01). Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a three dimension's model (χ² = 1974.015, P < .01; RMSEA = 0.079, 90% CI = 0.069–0.088; CFI = 0.869; TLI = 0.812; SRMR = 0.046). The three factors presented good internal consistency: F1 Perfectionist self-presentation (PSPS; a = .85), F2 Interpersonal Concern over mistakes (ICM; a = .79); F3 Perfectionist image (PI; a = .70).

PSP and ICM (and PI with fewer significant coefficients and lower magnitudes) were moderately to highly correlate with personal standards, concern over mistakes, doubts about action, self-oriented perfectionism and social prescribed perfectionism (≥ .40). Correlations with narcissism and machiavellianism, anxiety and stress were moderate (r = .30) (all P < .01).

Conclusions

The Portuguese version of PSPS has good reliability and validity, with the factorial model presenting an acceptable fit (Hair et al., 2004). It could be very useful both in clinical and research contexts, namely in an ongoing research project on the relationship between perfectionism and interpersonal functioning.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.