This pre-registered study compares the faking resistance of Likert scales and graded paired comparisons (GPCs) analyzed with Thurstonian IRT models. Based on findings on other forced-choice formats, we hypothesized that GPCs would be more resistant to faking than Likert scales by resulting in lower score inflation and better recovery of applicants’ true (i.e., honest) trait scores. A total of N = 573 participants completed either the Likert or GPC version of a personality questionnaire first honestly and then in an applicant scenario. Results show that participants were able to increase their scores in both the Likert and GPC format, though their score inflation was smaller in the GPC than the Likert format. However, GPCs did not exhibit higher honest–faking correlations than Likert scales; under certain conditions, we even observed negative associations. These results challenge mean score inflation as the dominant paradigm for judging the utility of foeced-choice questionnaires in high-stakes situations. Even if FC factor scores are less inflated, their ability to recover true trait standings in high-stakes situations might be lower compared with Likert scales. Moreover, in the GPC format, faking effects correlated almost perfectly with the social desirability differences of the corresponding statements, highlighting the importance of matching statements equal in social desirability when constructing forced-choice questionnaires.

Social support is an important determinant of help-seeking in the context of mental health. Previous evidence shows differences in the relation between social support and help-seeking between more collectivistic vs. more individualistic cultures. Especially the cultural informed role of the family might play a key role in help-seeking decisions. Still, many studies have been conducted with minority groups in Western societies which have to face additional struggles due to immigration. The current study investigates help-seeking, social support, cultural values, and help-seeking intentions in the Cuban and German general populations. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was applied to n = 340 Cuban and n = 340 German adults. Multiple-group structural equation modeling was used to examine measurement invariance between the groups and to explore relationships between the concepts under study in both cultural groups. No measurement invariance could be established for the overall model and most of the measures separately which impedes cross-cultural comparisons. Using plausible values, the structural model was estimated in both samples separately. Not all hypotheses could be supported for the Cuban and German samples. Yet, social support and the importance of family predicted informal and formal help-seeking significantly but differently in both samples. In the light of methodological limitations, their potential to support or to prevent different forms of help-seeking are discussed and possible practical implications derived.