Perfectionism and the Five-Factor Model of Personality

In this study of the discriminant, convergent, and incremental validity of the Almost Perfect Scale—Revised (APS-R), university students completed the APS-R, additional measures of perfectionism, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory—Form S, and measures of self-esteem and depression. The results revealed expected significant, but not completely overlapping, associations between the APS-R Discrepancy subscale scores and the Five-Factor Model of Personality (FFM) dimension of Neuroticism, and between the APS-R High Standards and Order subscales and the FFM dimension of Conscientiousness. The incremental validity of APS-R scores over FFM dimensions was supported in analyses of self-esteem but not depression. The implications of these findings for further psychometric and clinical studies of perfectionism and facets of FFM dimensions are discussed.