What Lies Beyond the Superordinate Trait Perfectionism Factors? The Perfectionistic Self-Presentation and Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory Versus the Big Three Perfectionism Scale in Predicting Depression and Social Anxiety

Abstract

Extreme perfectionism has been linked with distress and dysfunction. This association is reflected by the recent development of the Big Three Perfectionism Scale (BTPS), which has superordinate trait-based scales that assess 3 broad elements—rigid, self-critical, and narcissistic perfectionism. We examined psychometric features of the BTPS as well as the links between the BTPS and indexes of distress. A sample of 602 undergraduates completed the BTPS, the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory, and measures of social anxiety and depression. Support was obtained for the psychometric qualities of the BTPS. All 3 superordinate trait factors were associated with social anxiety and depression. Analyses also established that rigid perfectionism, self-critical perfectionism, and narcissistic perfectionism are associated with perfectionistic cognitions and perfectionistic self-presentation. In addition, the results of a series of regression analyses established that perfectionistic self-presentation and perfectionistic cognitions accounted for significant unique variance in distress beyond the variance attributable to rigid, narcissistic, and self-critical perfectionism. Overall, our results suggest that the BTPS has significant promise as a predictor of various forms of dysfunction, but the cognitive and self-presentational aspects of the perfectionism construct are also uniquely relevant and not redundant with the BTPS superordinate trait factors