Perfectionism,Self-Efficacy,and Depression: Preliminary Analysis of the Japanese Version of the Almost Perfect Scale–Revised

The Almost Perfect Scale–Revised is a self-report measure of perfectionism. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the scale's Japanese version and its relation to self-efficacy and depression. Japanese university students (N = 249) completed the Japanese version of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised along with the General Self-Efficacy Scale–12 and the Self-Rating Depression Scale. Exploratory factor analysis indicated three factors: Discrepancy, High Standards, and Order. Estimates of internal consistency reliability for the three subscales were high. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Almost Perfect Scale–Revised in another group of Japanese university students (N = 206) supported the 3-factor structure. Cluster analyses using the three subscales yielded four clusters. In addition to adaptive perfectionists, maladaptive perfectionists, and nonperfectionists, identified in previous studies, a normal perfectionists group was identified, with mean scores similar to those of the total sample and depression and self-efficacy scores close to those of nonperfectionists. Adaptive perfectionists, characterized by high scores on High Standards and Order and low scores on Discrepancy, also had higher scores on self-efficacy and lower scores on depression than maladaptive perfectionists and even nonperfectionists. The influence of Japanese culture is discussed.