Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA)

Abstract

Identity diffusion is a core element of the borderline personality organization. A valid and reliable assessment tool is needed to identify at-risk adolescents in the Italian context. In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence (AIDA), designed to assess identity diffusion vs. identity integration, in an Italian sample (N = 1,102) of clinical and nonclinical adolescents. Explorative structural equation modelling fit the expected bi-factor structure with one pathology-related general factor and 6 specific factors (CFI = .905, RMSEA = 0.036). Internal consistency Cronbach's alphas were high with .94 for the AIDA total scale and adequate for the six subscales with .68 to .81. Results supported convergent validity with measures of borderline personality features (BPFSC-11), as well as discriminant validity with identity dimensions in ideological and interpersonal domains (UMICS). The AIDA total score Identity Diffusion differed with significance p < .001 and with a large effect size of d = 1.5 standard deviations between the general population sample and N= 55 patients diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. AIDA is a valid and reliable measure to assess adolescents' identity pathology within the Italian context.

Psychometric Properties of a Cultural Adapted Version of the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence in Panama

“…In the main test, most items had moderate levels of item total correlation, at total scale, primary scale, and subscales, suggesting sufficient associations between the content of the items in order to justify the use of sum scores on the different levels. We also found excellent levels of internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha that supports the thorough adaptation process with comparable results to other versions in Latin American adaptations ( 36 , 38 ) as well as in other languages ( 37 , 64 ). Inventories for countries with related cultures and similar languages, as happen in Latin America where Spanish is the dominant language, requires versions that are comprehensible for population and their cultural expressions ( 65 ).…”

“…The school sample and the clinical sample differed between their total scores with a large effect size. In earlier studies, the size effect with clinical sample were higher in Mexican population with d = 0.84 ( 38 ) and German population with d = 2.17 ( 1 ) while our results are more similar to Italian population with d = 1.5 ( 37 ).…”

“…Factorial Validity was assessed with bi factorial Confirmatory Factor Analysis to evaluate the model of a general factor—Identity diffusion—and six specific factors, referring to the subscales. In previous studies, Bi factor models has shown better fit than traditional CFA models ( 36 , 37 ). The model parameters were computed using maximum likelihood estimation and the model fit was evaluated with traditional cut off values, expecting above 0.90 for Comparative Fit Index, above 0.90 for Tucker Lewis Index, below 0.08 for Root Mean Square Error Approximation and below 0.06 for Standardized Root Mean Square Residual ( 53 , 54 ).…”

“…Actually, the AIDA has several cultural adaptations (see https://academic-tests.com ) with very similar results regarding reliability, intercorrelations of the scales, and factor structure according to principal component analysis as an exploratory method. Exploratory Structural Equational Modeling has been used to test factorial validity in Chilean population ( 36 ) and Italian population ( 37 ), with both studies assessing a bi factorial structure with one general factor and six specific factors regarding the subscales of the inventory, with results that support unidimensionality of the inventory with better fit than other analyses like Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Moreover, the AIDA across diverse cultures showed evidence of clinical validity by differentiation between healthy and clinical or at risk populations, as shown with the Chilean and Italian validation studies.…”

Psychotic Experiences and Sleep Quality in the Emerging Adulthood

“…When negative relationships and their associated part of psychic experience are mostly negative, fragmented and nonintegrated sense of self and others arise with a predominance of primitive defenses such as splitting (Kernberg, 2015). In this context, severe traumatic experiences constitute a further etiological factor for the syndrome of identity diffusion, reflecting a core feature of borderline and psychotic personality organizations (Kernberg, 2006; Musetti et al, 2021a).…”