Validation of the short Arabic UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

Abstract

BackgroundImpulsivity is involved in numerous psychiatric and addictive disorders, as well as in risky behaviors. The UPPS-P scale highlights five complementary impulsivity constructs (i.e., positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking) that possibly work as different pathways linking impulsivity to other disorders. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Arab language short 20-item UPPS-P scale and to eventually validate it.MethodsParticipants were recruited online through e-mail invitations. After online informed consent was obtained, the questionnaires (the UPPS-P and the Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS]) were completed anonymously. The five dimensions of the Arab UPPS-P model were assessed in a sample of 743 participants.ResultsAs in other linguistic assessments of the UPPS-P, confirmatory factor analysis showed the validity of a model with five different, but nonetheless interrelated, facets of impulsivity. A three-factor model with two higher order factors—urgency (negative and positive) and lack of conscientiousness (lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance)—and a third sensation seeking factor fit the data well, but to a lesser extent. The results suggested good internal consistency, with external validity shown from correlations between some of the UPPS-P components and a measure of addictive Internet use (the CIUS).ConclusionThe Arab short UPPS-P is a valid assessment tool with good psychometric properties and is suitable for online use.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese version of UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

“…We also explored the relationship between the five subscales and the variables for depression, anxiety, and demography. The results of our study and earlier studies suggest that the impulsivity trait can be influenced by depression and anxiety (9,14,28). In addition, some studies showed that impulsivity decreased as age increased, which was found here for lack of perseverance (8,31).…”

“…In addition, negative urgency was not notably correlated with a lack of premeditation; this has not been reported in previous studies. However, the low correlation between negative urgency and the lack of perseverance is common (27)(28)(29). The relationship between the various facets of impulsivity may vary in different countries because of cultural diversity.…”

Recommendations for applying a multi-dimensional model of impulsive personality to diagnosis and treatment

“…The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale consists of 59 statements rated on a 1 to 4 Likert-type scale from “agree strongly” to “disagree strongly.” The UPPS-P questionnaire has been translated into more than 10 languages, including French [ 36 ], German [ 37 ], Italian [ 38 ], Spanish [ 39 ], Korean [ 40 ], Polish [ 41 ], Portuguese [ 42 ], and Dutch [ 43 ] and multiple short forms have been developed in Arabic [ 44 ], English [ 45 ], Farsi [ 46 ], French [ 47 ], German [ 48 ], Italian [ 49 ], and Spanish [ 50 ]. A child version also has been developed and validated [ 51 ].…”

Psychometric Properties of a Short Version of the Impulsiveness Questionnaire UPPS-P in a Brazilian Adult Sample: Invariance for Effects of Age, Sex and Socioeconomic Status and Subscales Viability

“…There is another short, 20-item version of the UPPS-P that was proposed by Billieux et al (2012) (translated into Spanish: Cándido et al, 2012 ; Italian: D’Orta et al, 2015 ; and Arabic: Bteich et al, 2017 ). To build this short scale the authors followed a different approach to that used by Cyders et al (2014) : they chose the four items with the highest factorial loads in their respective domains.…”