Description of the Questionnaire

The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS) by Hewitt & Flett (1991) is a psychometric tool designed to assess the multidimensional nature of perfectionism. The questionnaire consists of 45 statements that participants are asked to rate using a seven-point Likert scale, where 1 indicates strong disagreement and 7 indicates strong agreement. The tool assesses three dimensions of perfectionism: Self-Oriented Perfectionism (SOP), which refers to high standards imposed by the individual on themselves; Other-Oriented Perfectionism (OOP), which relates to the expectations the individual places on others; and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism (SPP), which reflects the belief that others expect perfection from the individual.

Data Analysis and Use

Data from the questionnaire are analyzed by calculating scores for each of the three dimensions of perfectionism. This is done by summing the participant’s responses to the relevant items for each subscale, after reversing scores where necessary. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) values are .89 for SOP, .86 for SPP, and .79 for OOP. The data can be analyzed using descriptive statistics such as means and standard deviations, as well as correlational or factor analyses to explore relationships with other variables or to confirm the instrument’s factor structure.

Purpose

The purpose of the MPS is to assess perfectionism as a complex, multidimensional personality trait. By distinguishing between personal standards, expectations toward others, and perceived societal pressures, the instrument provides a comprehensive understanding of perfectionism. It is widely used both in research and clinical practice, contributing to the understanding of the relationship between perfectionism and psychopathology, assessing risk for anxiety, depression, and personality disorders, and guiding psychotherapeutic interventions.

Scoring

Participants are asked to rate each statement on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Some items require reverse scoring before calculating the subscale totals. The final score for each dimension is the sum of the relevant item scores, with higher values indicating stronger tendencies toward that specific type of perfectionism. Scoring can be done manually or with statistical software, depending on the requirements of the study or clinical use.

References

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.
Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., Turnbull-Donovan, W., & Mikail, S. F. (1991). The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale: Reliability, validity, and psychometric properties in psychiatric samples. Psychological Assessment, 3, 464–468.
Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., & Dyck, D. G. (1989). Perfectionism, neuroticism, and anxiety. Personality and Individual Differences, 10, 731–735.
Flett, G. L., Hewitt, P. L., Endler, N. S., & Tassone, C. (1995). Perfectionism and components of state and trait anxiety. Current Psychology, 13, 326–350.
Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., & Ediger, E. (1996). Perfectionism and depression: Longitudinal assessment of a specific vulnerability hypothesis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 276–280.
Flett, G. L., & Hewitt, P. L. (Eds.). (2002). Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.