The Scale of Perfectionism and Excellencism (SCOPE): An Adolescent-Based Validation Study for the Measurement of Perfectionism and Excellencism

Abstract

While perfectionism is often perceived to be something positive, maladaptive perfectionism can lead to a number of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Contemporary definitions suggest perfectionism is composed of two higher-order dimensions: maladaptive ‘perfectionistic strivings’ and adaptive ‘perfectionistic concerns’. However, recent studies suggest that frequently used measures of perfectionistic strivings predict both maladaptive and adaptive outcomes, contradicting current definitions. To resolve this issue, the Scale of Perfectionism and Excellencism (SCOPE) was created. It attempts to separate maladaptive perfectionism from adaptive striving for excellence in the hope to unpack the perfectionistic strivings dimension. The primary aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the SCOPE on an adolescent population. Further, the study also explored associations between perfectionism and academic performance. The study was conducted using an online survey of Australian adolescents (n = 376, M age = 17.99, SD = 1.28) from both a Senior College and University. Results revealed both SCOPE subscales demonstrate high internal consistency indicating the measure is reliable, and promising initial evidence for construct validity. Furthermore, the SCOPE excellencism subscale was more strongly associated with academic performance than the SCOPE personal standards perfectionism subscale contributing further evidence to construct validity. Future studies should test the longitudinal validity of the SCOPE in detecting changes in perfectionism over time in a more generalisable sample.