Brief Differential Perfectionism Inventory:Checking Cross-Cultural Stability of the Factor Structureand Psychometric Characteristics

Abstract

The paper describes the procedure of developing an express test of perfectionism and its English version. Basing on the outcomes of previous studies (N = 2400), we selected 14 items from the Differential Perfectionism Inventory (which consists of 24 items) that comprised the Brief Differential Perfectionism Inventory (BDPI). The analysis of psychometric characteristics was conducted on a sample of Russian-speaking students (N = 164). Cross-cultural stability of the factor structure and psychometric characteristics was tested on a sample of Malaysian students (N = 153) with perfect knowledge of English. The factor structure of the Russian and English versions of the SDTP proved that there were two scales in the test: the scale of normal perfectionism measures an individual’s healthy longing for perfection (setting high but reachable standards for oneself), whereas the scale of pathological perfectionism measures a person’s unhealthy striving for perfection (setting unattainable and unreasonable standards). Both versions of the test showed acceptable validity and reliability rates and were therefore considered effective tools for quick assessment of perfectionism, in particular, in cross-cultural studies.