Overview
The CAPS is a measure of perfectionism in adolescents. The items focus on perfectionism that is derived from the self or others with limited focus on the ability or inability to attain these standards. Originally developed with adolescents aged 13 and older - now validated in children aged 8+: see Vicent et al., (2019).Scoring & Interpretation
The CAPS is a 22-item two-dimensional measure of perfectionism in adolescents. The two dimensions include 12 items exploring self-oriented perfectionism (exceptionally high personal standards and being driven to achieve these standards) and 10 items exploring socially prescribed perfectionism (the belief or perception that other people demand perfection from the self). Respondents are asked to read each item and circle a response from 1 False (not at all true of me) to 5 True (very true of me). Three items are reverse scored (3, 9, 18). Responses for each subscale are summed to give a total score. Higher scores indicate higher levels of perfectionism.Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency
Internal consistency reliability was .85 for the self-oriented scale and .81 for socially prescribed perfectionism scale. Item-total correlations ranged from .36 to .76 for the self-orientated scale and .28 to .59 for the socially prescribed scale.
Test-Retest Reliability
A series of test-retest analyses were run. At 1-year test–retest reliabilities were .65 for self-oriented perfectionism and .59 for socially prescribed perfectionism. At 3-years the test–retest reliabilities were .51 for self-oriented perfectionism and .35 for socially prescribed perfectionism. The 5-year test–retest reliabilities were .40 for self-oriented perfectionism and .36 for socially prescribed perfectionism.
Factor Structure
Exploratory factor analysis suggested a 22-item two-factor structure representing self-orientated (12-Items) and socially prescribed perfectionism (10-items).
Validity
Convergent Validity: Self-oriented perfectionism was strongly correlated with items from the Academic Reasons Survey (ARS).measuring a personal desire for perfection (r = .64, p<.01). Socially prescribed perfectionism was strongly correlated with reports of parental desires for perfection.
Divergent Validity: A weak to moderate correlation was found between self- oriented perfectionism and mother’s desire for perfection (r=.31, p<.01) and the correlation between self-orientated perfection and father’s desire for perfection was non-significant. A weak correlation was found between socially prescribed perfectionism and a self-desire for perfection (r = .28, p<.01).
Measurement Invariance
Access
Perfectionism and Psychotherapy Lab. The University of British Columbia.https://hewittlab.psych.ubc.ca/measures-3/child-adolescent-perfectionism-scale/