Psychometric evaluation of the perfectionism scale's characteristics regarding physical appearance in patients seeking rhinoplasty surgery

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the psychometric characteristics of the perfectionism scale regarding physical appearance in patients seeking rhinoplasty. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 250 individuals seeking rhinoplasty in Kermanshah beauty clinics. Participants were purposively selected. Tools included perfectionism, social comparison, and body image acceptance scales. Divergence and convergence were assessed using various scales. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 and LISREL. Results: The obtained value for the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy was 0.83, indicating that the sample adequacy was desirable, and the data in this study had the potential for factor analysis. The significance level for Bartlett's test of sphericity was also less than 0.0001, demonstrating the appropriateness of factor analysis for identifying the structure (factor model). Furthermore, the Cronbach's alpha-coefficient for the entire scale was 0.853, indicating acceptable questionnaire reliability. Internal consistency among the perfectionism subscales was confirmed. Additionally, the correlation between perfectionism subscales and measures of interindividual sensitivity and body appearance acceptance was confirmed (p < 0.001). Results supported the convergent validity of perfectionism with appearance acceptance and the divergent validity of perfectionism with interindividual sensitivity. Conclusion: This questionnaire, a self-report tool for measuring perfectionism traits in individuals seeking rhinoplasty, is recommended for use alongside interviews and observations for a thorough assessment. However, results may be influenced by individual biases. Despite this, the acceptable validity and reliability of this questionnaire make it suitable for research.