The Multidimensional Parenting Perfectionism Questionnaire (MPPQ)

Abstract

The Multidimensional Parenting Perfectionism Questionnaire (MPPQ) is a specialized psychological instrument designed to measure various facets of perfectionism as it manifests specifically within the context of parenting. Developed by Snell and Overbey, the scale extends general models of perfectionism, such as those proposed by Hewitt & Flett and Frost et al., by applying them to the parental role. It assesses both intrapersonal (self-imposed) and interpersonal (socially imposed or partner-imposed) dimensions of the drive for flawlessness in childcare and family management. The MPPQ is crucial for understanding how excessive parental standards relate to psychological adjustment and family dynamics.

Keywords

Parenting perfectionism, self-oriented perfectionism, socially prescribed perfectionism, partner expectations, parental standards, psychological assessment, family psychology.

Authors

W. E. Snell, Jr., G. Overbey, A. L. Brewer.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the MPPQ is to provide a comprehensive, multidimensional measure for researchers and clinicians studying the relationship between perfectionistic tendencies and parental adjustment, stress, and behavior. It moves beyond simply measuring global perfectionism by delineating specific sources and targets of perfectionistic demands related to the parental role, thereby allowing for a nuanced understanding of its psychological impact.

The scale is utilized to differentiate between internally driven desires for perfect parenting (self-oriented) and external pressures originating from society or a romantic partner (prescribed and expected perfectionism). This distinction is crucial for understanding how different sources of perceived perfectionism correlate with outcomes such as parental burnout, anxiety, and relationship quality with the partner and child.

Construct

The MPPQ measures perfectionism within the domain of parenting, conceptualizing it as a multi-faceted construct based on established models, such as Hewitt and Flett’s Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale. The complete instrument is divided into two main sections (Section I and Section II), which together capture ten distinct subscales representing the sources and consequences of perfectionistic beliefs in the parental domain.

The scale assesses dimensions including self-imposed standards, perceived societal pressure, partner expectations regarding one’s own parenting, one’s expectations for the partner’s parenting, concern over mistakes, doubts about activities, and the emphasis placed on organization and neatness in the parental role. These dimensions highlight the complex interplay between personal standards and interpersonal dynamics in creating parental stress and dictating behavior.

Validity

The MPPQ was developed with rigorous attention to construct validity, ensuring that the items accurately reflect the theoretical distinctions between different forms of parenting perfectionism. The scale’s factor structure provides strong evidence for its construct validity, supporting the separation of the self-oriented, socially prescribed, and partner-related dimensions, which are theoretically distinct constructs in perfectionism research.

Subsequent research using the MPPQ has supported its utility, showing expected correlations with measures of general perfectionism, parental stress, marital satisfaction, and psychological distress, thus providing evidence for its convergent and predictive validity within family psychology contexts. The scale demonstrates content validity as its items explicitly address high standards, critical evaluation, and demands related to typical parenting activities and roles.

Reliability

The MPPQ is reported to possess adequate to strong internal consistency across its ten subscales, demonstrating that the items within each dimension reliably measure their intended facet of parenting perfectionism. Reliability coefficients (typically Cronbach’s Alpha values, detailed in the 2005 publication) indicate the stability and coherence of the measured constructs.

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis performed during the scale’s development confirmed its complex, multidimensional structure, resulting in the identification of ten distinct factors. These factors are distributed across two main sections. Section I primarily focuses on the sources of perfectionistic demands (e.g., self, society, partner), while Section II details the behavioral manifestations and emotional consequences of those demands (e.g., concern over mistakes, organization).

The ten subscales identified through the factor analysis and psychometric validation process are:

• Self-oriented Parenting Perfectionism
• Societal Prescribed Parenting Perfectionism
• Partner’s Self-oriented Parenting Perfectionism
• Partner Prescribed Parenting Perfectionism
• Partner Expected Standards for Parenting
• Concern over Parenting Mistakes
• Doubts about Parenting Activity
• Personal Parenting Standards
• Partner’s Parenting Expectations
• Partner’s Parenting Criticism
• Parental Organization

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological assessment questionnaire.

Format: The MPPQ consists of 65 items utilizing a 5-point Likert scale response format. The anchors are: A = Not at all characteristic of me, B = Slightly characteristic of me, C = Somewhat characteristic of me, D = Moderately characteristic of me, and E = Very characteristic of me.

Language Available: Primarily English (Original development).

Population Group: Adult parents or caregivers, typically studied within the context of a romantic partnership.

Age Group: Adult parents (ranging from young to middle adulthood).

Population Details: The scale is applicable to individuals actively engaged in the parental role, and research often utilizes samples from community or university populations.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the extent to which each item is characteristic of their beliefs, behaviors, or experiences related to parenting. Scoring involves summing item responses within each of the ten defined subscales to derive multidimensional scores.

Keywords

Psychometrics, self-report scale, parental burnout, family dynamics, relationship quality, psychological measurement, parental anxiety.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not available in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not available in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not available in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The initial manuscript outlining the MPPQ was prepared in 1997 by Snell and Overbey. The scale was formally validated and published in 2005 (Snell, Overbey, & Brewer). The instrument was historically available for academic research purposes via the authors’ university website. The original online source for the instrument can be found at: http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/MPPQ.HTM and http://www4.semo.edu/snell/TESTING.HTM.

Reference’s

• Snell, W. E., Jr., & Overbey, G. (1997). Measuring multiple aspects of parenting perfectionism: The Multidimensional Parenting Perfectionism Questionnaire (MPPQ). Manuscript in preparation.
• Frost, R. O., Marten, P. A., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449-468.
• Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., Turnbull-Donovan, W., & Mikail, S. F. (1991). The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale: Reliability, validity, and psychometric properties in psychiatric samples. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 3, 464-468.
• Snell, W. E., Jr., Overbey, G., & Brewer, A. L. (2005). Parenting perfectionism and the parenting role. Personality and Individual Differences, 39, 613-624.

Items of the The Multidimensional Parenting Perfectionism Questionnaire (MPPQ)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The MPPQ uses a 5-point response scale:

• A = Not at all characteristic of me.
• B = Slightly characteristic of me.
• C = Somewhat characteristic of me.
• D = Moderately characteristic of me.
• E = Very characteristic of me.

SECTION I: Sources of Perfectionism (30 Items)

1. I set very high standards for myself as a parent. (Self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
2. Only if I am “perfect” as a parent will society consider me to be a good parent. (Societal prescribed parenting perfectionism)
3. My partner sets very high standards of excellence for herself/himself as a parent. (Partner’s self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
4. My partner expects me to be a perfect parent. (Partner prescribed parenting perfectionism)
5. I expect my partner to always be a top-notch and competent parent. (Partner expected standards for parenting)
6. I must always be successful as a parent. (Self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
7. Most people in society expect me to always be a perfect parent. (Societal prescribed parenting perfectionism)
8. My partner is perfectionistic in that she/he expects to be a perfect parent all the time. (Partner’s self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
9. My partner demands nothing less than perfection of me as a parent. (Partner prescribed parenting perfectionism)
10. My partner should never let me down when it comes to being a parent. (Partner expected standards for parenting)
11. One of my goals is to be a “perfect” parent. (Self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
12. Most people expect me to always be an excellent parent. (Societal prescribed parenting perfectionism)
13. It makes my partner uneasy for him/her to be less than a perfect parent. (Partner’s self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
14. My partner always wants me to be a perfect parent. (Partner prescribed parenting perfectionism)
15. I cannot stand for my partner to be less than a competent parent. (Partner expected standards for parenting)
16. I always feel the need to be a “perfect” parent. (Self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
17. I have to be a perfect parent in order for most people to regard me as okay. (Societal prescribed parenting perfectionism)
18. My partner sets very high, perfectionistic goals for herself (himself) as a parent. (Partner’s self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
19. My partner pressures me to be a perfect parent. (Partner prescribed parenting perfectionism)
20. I expect nothing less than “parental perfectionism” from my partner. (Partner expected standards for parenting)
21. I always pressure myself to be the best parent in the world. (Self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
22. In order for people to accept me, I have to be the greatest parent in the world. (Societal prescribed parenting perfectionism)
23. My partner is always trying to be totally perfect as a parent. (Partner’s self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
24. My partner has very high perfectionistic goals for me as a parent. (Partner prescribed parenting perfectionism)
25. I will appreciate my partner, but only if she/he is a perfect parent. (Partner expected standards for parenting)
26. I have very high perfectionistic goals for myself as a parent. (Self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
27. Most people expect me to be perfectionistic when it comes to being a parent. (Societal prescribed parenting perfectionism)
28. My partner always feels that she/he has to be the best possible parent. (Partner’s self-oriented parenting perfectionism)
29. In order for my partner to appreciate me, I have to be a perfect parent. (Partner prescribed parenting perfectionism)
30. I expect my partner to try to be perfectionistic when it comes to parenting behavior. (Partner expected standards for parenting)

SECTION II: Manifestations and Consequences (35 Items)

31. My spouse/partner sets very high parenting standards for me. (Partner’s parenting expectations)
32. Being organized as a parent is very important to me. (Parental organization)
33. My spouse/partner has criticized me for being less than a perfect parent. (Partner’s parenting criticism)
34. If I do not set the highest standards for myself, I am likely to end up a second rate parent. (Personal parenting standards)
35. My spouse/partner never tries to understand my mistakes/shortcomings as a parent. (Partner’s parenting criticism)
36. It is important to me that I am thoroughly competent in everything I do as a parent. (Personal parenting standards)
37. I am rather neat (i.e., not messy) as a parent. (Parental organization)
38. I try to take an organized approach to being a parent. (Parental organization)
39. If I fail to rear my children well, I would be a total failure as a person. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
40. I should be upset if I make a mistake in rearing my children. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
41. My spouse/partner wants me to be the best possible parent in the entire world. (Partner’s parenting expectations)
42. I set higher goals for myself as a parent than do most people. (Personal parenting standards)
43. If someone were a better parent than I, then I would feel like a complete failure as a parent. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
44. If I fail in even a small way to be a totally good parent, it is as bad as being completely inadequate. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
45. Only when I am an “outstanding” parent is it good enough for my spouse/partner. (Partner’s parenting expectations)
46. I am very good at focusing my efforts and time at being a good parent. (Personal parenting standards)
47. Even when I am very careful as a parent, I often feel that I failed to do something quite right. (Doubts about parenting activity)
48. I hate being less than the best possible parent. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
49. I have extremely high goals for myself as a parent. (Personal parenting standards)
50. My spouse/partner expects “parenting excellence” from me. (Partner’s parenting expectations)
51. My spouse/partner would probably think less of me if I made a mistake in parenting. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
52. I never feel like I can meet my spouse/partner’s expectations for me as a parent. (Partner’s parenting criticism)
53. If I am not as good a parent as other people, it means I am an inferior parent. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
54. Other people seem to accept less from themselves as a parent than I do for myself. (Personal parenting standards)
55. If I do not constantly attend to our children, my spouse/partner will not respect me as a parent. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
56. My spouse/partner has always had higher expectations for me as a parent than I have. (Partner’s parenting expectations)
57. I try to be an organized and neat parent. (Parental organization)
58. I usually have doubts about even the simple things I do and say as a parent. (Doubts about parenting activity)
59. As a parent, orderliness (and neatness) is very important to me. (Parental organization)
60. I expect more of myself as a parent than most people. (Personal parenting standards)
61. I take an organized approach to being a parent. (Parental organization)
62. I tend to have problems as a parent, because I keep doing things the same old way. (Doubts about parenting activity)
63. It takes me a long time to do something “right” as a parent. (Doubts about parenting activity)
64. The fewer mistakes I make as a parent, the more my spouse/partner will like me. (Concern over parenting mistakes)
65. I never feel like I can meet my spouse/partner’s standards for good parenting behavior. (Partner’s parenting criticism)