Abstract
The present paper examines a measure of perfectionistic automatic thoughts in terms of its psychometric properties and association
with depression in adolescents. The Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (PCI) was administered to two samples of adolescents.
The first sample of adolescents (N = 250) also completed measures of trait perfectionism and depression. The second sample of adolescents (N = 105) completed these same measures as well as measures of negative automatic thoughts, positive automatic thoughts, self-criticism,
and dependency. Psychometric analyses established that the PCI consists of one large factor with a high level of internal
consistency. As expected, the PCI in adolescents was correlated significantly with trait measures of perfectionism, self-criticism,
dependency, as well as general measures of automatic thoughts. Most importantly, a series of hierarchical regressions established
that the PCI accounted for a significant degree of unique variance in depression, over and above the variance attributable
to trait personality measures and negative automatic thoughts in general. Overall, the findings suggest perfectionistic automatic
thoughts can be assessed in a reliable and valid manner in adolescents and that the experience of frequent, perfectionistic
thoughts contributes uniquely to increased levels of psychological distress.
with depression in adolescents. The Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory (PCI) was administered to two samples of adolescents.
The first sample of adolescents (N = 250) also completed measures of trait perfectionism and depression. The second sample of adolescents (N = 105) completed these same measures as well as measures of negative automatic thoughts, positive automatic thoughts, self-criticism,
and dependency. Psychometric analyses established that the PCI consists of one large factor with a high level of internal
consistency. As expected, the PCI in adolescents was correlated significantly with trait measures of perfectionism, self-criticism,
dependency, as well as general measures of automatic thoughts. Most importantly, a series of hierarchical regressions established
that the PCI accounted for a significant degree of unique variance in depression, over and above the variance attributable
to trait personality measures and negative automatic thoughts in general. Overall, the findings suggest perfectionistic automatic
thoughts can be assessed in a reliable and valid manner in adolescents and that the experience of frequent, perfectionistic
thoughts contributes uniquely to increased levels of psychological distress.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10942-011-0131-7
- Authors
- Gordon L. Flett, Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
- Paul L. Hewitt, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
- Aline Demerjian, Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
- Edward D. Sturman, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY USA
- Simon B. Sherry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
- Winnie Cheng, Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
- Journal Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
- Online ISSN 1573-6563
- Print ISSN 0894-9085