Establishing construct validity evidence for the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale

Abstract

Abstract Objective To obtain internal and external validity evidence supporting the use of the Sport Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale ( Sport - MPS : Dunn, J. G. H., Causgrove Dunn, J., & Syrotuik, D. G. (2002). Relationship between multidimensional perfectionism and goal orientations in sport. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology , 24 , 376–395) as a measure of perfectionist tendencies in sport. Internal validity evidence was gathered by examining the factorial composition and factor structure of the Sport-MPS. External validity evidence was gathered by examining the relationship between the subscales of the Sport-MPS and the subscales of an established measure of global perfectionism. Method Independent samples of male Canadian Football players ( n =276, M age=18.29 years), male youth ice hockey players ( n =229, M age=14.15 years), male and female intercollegiate team-sport athletes ( n =221, M age=21.45 years), and female figure skaters ( n =121, M age=14.46 years) completed the Sport-MPS. A sub-sample of football players ( n =138) and all figure skaters also completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale ( Hewitt - MPS : Hewitt, P. L., & Flett, G. L. (1991). Perfectionism in the self and social contexts: Conceptualization, assessment, and association with psychopathology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 60 , 456–470) which served as a criterion measure of perfectionism. Results Confirmatory factor analyses failed to support the factor structure of the Sport-MPS suggested by Dunn et al. However, follow-up exploratory factor analyses suggest the Sport-MPS is comprised of four latent dimensions that measure personal standards , concern over mistakes , perceived parental pressure , and perceived coach pressure . Each factor was highly interpretable and corresponded to the factors proposed by Dunn et al. Statistically significant bivariate correlations, standardized regression coefficients, and canonical correlations (all p s Conclusions The internal structure of the Sport-MPS was quite robust across heterogeneous samples of competitive athletes. The anticipated relationships between Sport-MPS and Hewitt-MPS subscales support the use of the Sport-MPS as a measure of interpersonal and intrapersonal dimensions of perfectionism in sport. Further construct validation of the Sport-MPS is recommended.