More evidence for four perfectionism subgroups

Abstract

We evaluated the claim that four meaningful perfectionism subgroups could be derived from the High Standards (HS) and Discrepancy (Disc) scales of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) test, and that each subgroup would rate their anxiety, depression, stress and learning beliefs differently. One-hundred-and-five 17-year-old students completed the APS-R, the Depression, Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS), and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). Cluster analysis of HS and Disc scale responses yielded four subgroups (high HS/low Disc, high HS/high Disc, low HS/high Disc, low HS/low Disc), which were related to DASS and MSLQ measures. The low HS/high Disc subgroup claimed to use self-regulation less often than the high HS/low Disc and high HS/high Disc subgroups; and the high Disc subgroups exhibited higher depression ratings than the high HS/low Disc subgroup. These findings support a four-subgroup account of perfectionism. We suggest that the low HS/high Disc subgroup may deny their perfectionistic tendencies—a tendency often associated with psychological disorders.