Validation of Spanish version of the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory: Profiles of automatic perfectionism thoughts and their associations with social anxiety.

Abstract

Research on perfectionism is gaining importance. However, there is a lack of research findings on perfectionistic automatic thoughts (PATs). Accordingly, the first aim of this study was to validate a newly developed Spanish version of the Perfectionistic Cognitions Inventory. The second aim was to ascertain different profiles of PATs and examine intercluster differences in social anxiety. A sample of seven hundred ninety-eight 21-43-year-old Spanish undergraduate students (M age ϭ 23.2 years, SD ϭ 5.28) participated in the study. A model that consisted of 17 items situated within three first-order factors, namely, perfectionistic strivings, demands, and concerns, which loaded onto a second-order factor, namely, PATs, was found to be the best fit for the data. Cluster analysis identified three profiles of PATs. The group that obtained the highest scores on all three dimensions of PATs also obtained the highest scores on a measure of social anxiety. The present findings contribute to the existing literature on PATs. Public Significance StatementThe present study validated a Spanish version of the Perfectionistic Cognitions Inventory among university students. The assessment of perfectionistic automatic thoughts (PATs) is important because they are related to psychopathological variables such as depression and stress, which, in turn, can adversely affect the academic performance and socioemotional functioning of students. Accordingly, the present study identified different profiles of PATs and examined corresponding group differences in social anxiety. Those with high levels of PATs reported higher levels of social anxiety than the other groups.

Psychometric Properties of the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory in Ecuador

“…Also, it seems that, even after a year, people with PAT who ruminate on a negative past event take the negative feeling to such an extent that they can experience depressive symptoms a year after having suffered the event [ 11 ]. In this sense, research has shown the positive association between PATs and a wide range of psychopathologies, such as depression [ 12 ]; emotional distress [ 3 , 13 , 14 ]; anger, anxiety, and discouragement [ 15 , 16 ]; social anxiety [ 17 , 18 ]; rumination [ 2 , 19 ]; self-criticism, negative thinking, and dependence [ 19 ]; psychosomatic symptoms [ 3 , 20 ]; sensitivity to emotional pain [ 21 ]; eating behavior disorders [ 22 , 23 ]; and procrastination and fear of failure [ 24 ], among others.…”

“…Apart from the three studies performed in Canadian samples by Flett et al [ 3 , 13 , 19 ], three other studies have tested, from our knowledge, the psychometric properties of the PCI [ 18 , 30 , 31 ]. Appleton et al [ 30 ] employed a sample of 190 British junior athletes (73 females, M age = 15.2) and added an introduction to all items to adapt them to the sport practice (i.e., during practice/competition I think …).…”

“…More recently, Esteve-Faubel et al [ 18 ] translated the scale into Spanish and tested by using confirmatory factor analysis both one-dimensional [ 3 ] and three-dimensional [ 31 ] structures of the PCI proposed by previous research. A sample of 798 Spanish undergraduates was employed (591 females, M age = 23.2).…”

“…Their own model composed by 17 items (by deleting items 6, 8, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, and 22) structured in three dimensions (PC, PS, and PD, which are, in turn, encompassed in a higher-order dimension) obtained the best adjustment. By this way, the PCI structure purposed by Esteve-Faubel et al [ 18 ] combines the two structures (i.e., one-dimensional and three-dimensional) proposed by previous psychometric studies of the scale.…”

“…Due to the lack of consensus about the internal structure of the PCI, the need to expand research about PATs in other non-Western cultures and societies, such as Latin American [ 18 ], as well as to test the validity and reliability of the online scale administration, this study aims to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the PCI [ 18 ] in a sample of Ecuadorian undergraduates. Specifically, it is intended (a) to test the factorial structure of the scale, (b) to analyze its reliability, (c) to examine its factorial invariance across sex as well as (d) latent mean differences as a function of sex, and (e) to study the correlations between the dimensions of the PCI and the different factors that composed the difficulties of social interaction.…”