Perfectionism and Academic Performance in Italian College Students

Abstract

This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Italian translation of both the Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS) and the Short Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (SMPS), and the academic implications of perfectionism on 414 Italian college students aged between 18 and 58 years. Results revealed some limitations with the SAPS factor structure that, once addressed, yielded scores with good internal consistency and convergent validity. The SMPS had adequate psychometric properties. Higher perfectionistic strivings scores were associated with better academic performance and with higher rates of studying. This study provides support for the usefulness of both the SAPS and the SMPS in understanding relationships between different perfectionism dimensions and academic outcomes for Italian students.

Heavy Study Investment in Italian College Students. An Analysis of Loscalzo and Giannini’s (2017) Studyholism Comprehensive Model

“…Moreover, another methodological issue concerns the instrument we used for evaluating PS and PC, namely, the Short Almost-Perfect Scale (SAPS) (90). The Italian version (92) does not have fully satisfactory psychometric properties. Hence, the results for perfectionism should be evaluated while taking into account this methodological problem, and we suggest that future studies should analyze the role of PS and PC on studyholism by means of another instrument in order to compare the results with those that we found using the SAPS.…”

“…The Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS) is an eight-item self-report instrument that allows evaluating both PS (standards scale) and PC (discrepancy scale). It is the short form of the Almost Perfect Scale—Revised (APS-R) (91). The participants answer on a seven-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ( strongly disagree ) to 7 ( strongly agree ).…”

“…The participants answer on a seven-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ( strongly disagree ) to 7 ( strongly agree ). We administered the Italian version of the SAPS (92), which has a better fit for the six-item and two-factor model (CFI = .95; RMSEA = .10) than has the original eight-item version (CFI = .88; RMSEA = .13). More specifically, the Italian version of the SAPS does not include items 2 (discrepancy) and 5 (standards) in the scoring.…”

Psychometric Evidence of the Short Almost Perfect Scale (SAPS) in Brazil

“…Nevertheless, as invariance has not been substantially examined, it is hard to tell whether there are differences on the endorsement of perfectionism over different countries or whether this construct is understood in different ways by different groups. For instance, why is the factor structure of the SAPS different in China (Wang et al, 2007) and South Korea (Park, 2009), but relatively similar in Italy and the USA (Loscalzo et al, 2018)? We argue that more studies need to examine the invariance of the SAPS so that a better picture on why partial invariance has been found for some studies (Rice et al, 2018), but different structures have been reported for others.…”

“…For instance, why is the factor structure of the SAPS different in China (Wang et al, 2007) and South Korea (Park, 2009), but relatively similar in Italy and the USA (Loscalzo et al, 2018)? We argue that more studies need to examine the invariance of the SAPS so that a better picture on why partial invariance has been found for some studies (Rice et al, 2018), but different structures have been reported for others. In the present study, we contribute to this debate by presenting evidence of full metric and partial scalar invariance between an individualistic and developed country (the US) and a collectivistic and developing country (Brazil).…”