Validity of the Perceived Criticism Measure in an undergraduate sample

The concurrent and predictive validity of the Perceived Criticism Measure's Criticism and Upset subscales was assessed for undergraduates, 21 men and 98 women. Participants were asked to identify five people important to them at present (typically these were parents as well as peers) and, for each, to rate how critical that person was as well as how upsetting they found that criticism to be. Scores on Upset exhibited convergent validity with another self-report measure of general sensitivity to criticism, whereas those on Criticism did not. Neither measure predicted higher ratings of criticism in a specific interaction with a mildly critical peer. Divergent validity with scores on a measure of depression was supported for Upset but was less clear for Criticism. Strong evidence of predictive validity for Criticism and Upset was obtained. Ratings for both Peer scales predicted increased negative affect after mild criticism from a peer, although this interaction took place 4 to 10 weeks after administration of the Perceived Criticism Measure.