Assessing the factor structure and composition of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale in sport

Two studies were conducted in an effort to validate and refine the factor structure and factorial composition of the Positive and Negative Perfectionism Scale (Terry-Short, Owens, Slade, & Dewey, 1995) for use within sport. In study 1, initial confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using a sample of elite athletes (n=540) from a variety of sports failed to support the original 40-item two-factor structure. Subsequently, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to reconstitute the PANPS factor structure, followed by CFA to validate the results from the EFA. These analyses supported a more parsimonious 19-item two-factor structure representing the constructs Positive Perfectionism and Negative Perfectionism. In study 2, the reconstituted 19-item model was cross-validated using an independent sample of rowers (n=496) and provided a good approximation of the data. Collectively, the present results support the tenability of an abbreviated two-factor dual perfectionism model in athletes. Recommendations for future sport research using this scale are discussed.