Assessment of “los pequeños” Big Five: The Spanish version of the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire in adolescents.

Abstract

The major advantage of the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire (BFPTSQ) over other noncommercial Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality scales is that it targets both adolescents and adults. The aim of the present study was to explore the psychometric properties of this questionnaire in a Spanish, adolescent sample. The main sample was composed of 1,082 participants (M age = 14.16, SD = 1.56, age range = 12-17 years), 53% girls. The results showed that the expected factor structure was mostly recovered using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). The ESEM presented satisfactory fit indices, as well as metric invariance and partial scalar invariance across genders. Moreover, coefficient αs and ordinal Ωs of all the scales were over .70, and test-retest indices were significant ( p < .001). Regarding the associations of BFPTSQ with a junior FFM inventory, the correlations with the broad-trait scales ranged from .61 to .72, and 29 out of 30 correlations with the facet scales were significant ( p < .001). Finally, most of the expected associations between the BFPTSQ scales and the criterion measures (internalizing and externalizing symptom scales, life satisfaction, and academic performance) were confirmed, widely replicating the results found in the development of the original questionnaire. This study supports the construct validity of extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and emotional stability scales in Spanish-speaking adolescents. However, openness did not emerge as a well-defined factor in the present sample. The questionnaire seems to be a useful and readable measure for research and, potentially, for other applications such as clinical use. Public Significance StatementThis study presents the Spanish version of the Big Five Personality Trait Short Questionnaire (BFPTSQ). The results demonstrate the construct validity of the Spanish BFPTSQ in adolescents, although the openness scale did not emerge as a well-defined factor. The BFPTSQ is a noncommercial measure, of wide conceptual breadth, that can be used in both adolescents and adults for research and, potentially, for other applications such as clinical use.