The Scale of Perfectionism and Excellencism (SCOPE): Factor Structure and Associations With Well-Being, Il-Being, and Academic Performance
Date
2022
Authors
Tan, Nicole Li Aun
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Abstract
Perfectionism can be understood as a multidimensional personality trait that consists of two- higher order factors: perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. While the former is generally associated with positive outcomes and the latter with the negative, there is a persistent overlap of adverse outcomes that requires attention. Research suggests that this could be due to measures of perfectionistic strivings being confounded with healthy strivings of excellence, termed "excellencism". The newly developed Scale of Perfectionism and Excellencism (SCOPE) was explored in a sample of 248 Australian university students to address the issue. The study investigated the scale's factor structure and its associations with well-being, ill-being, self- reported ATAR, and gender. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the two- factor structure of the SCOPE. Measures of well-being were more generally associated with excellencism and the measures of ill-being with perfectionistic strivings. Excellencism accounted for 15% of variance in academic performance, whereas perfectionistic strivings accounted for 4%. The pursuit of high standards was more associated with well-being in males and ill-being in females. The results support excellencism and perfectionistic strivings as distinct constructs and the validity of the SCOPE. The findings suggest that the entanglement of these two constructs may mask the maladaptive nature of perfectionistic strivings. This study implies the need to assess the nature of perfectionistic strivings separated from and in reference to excellencism. It was proposed that excellencism could be applied into the intervention and prevention of perfectionism.
School/Discipline
School of Psychology
Dissertation Note
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2022
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