Psychometric properties of the Catalan version of DS14 scale for assessing Type-D personality

Abstract

This study was designed to check the psychometric properties of an online Catalan version of the Type D Personality Scale-14 (DS14). Participants were 600 subjects including university professors, service and administrative personnel (n = 419) and students (n = 181); in total 196 men (32.7%) and 404 women (67.3%) with a mean age of 36.99 (SD = 12.76). The sample was randomly split in two groups: calibration and validation. The structural validity was analyzed in the calibration group (n = 311) using exploratory factor analysis with oblique and orthogonal rotation procedures, showing two robust factor structure, corresponding to Negative Affectivity (NA) and Social Inhibition (SI). No differences were found comparing the two rotation methods. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed in the validation group (n = 289) and the two factor model was replicated, showing satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices as 2/df = 2.40, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.06, GFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.93, CFI = 0.93 and IFI = 0.94. The re-specified model correlating the error terms of four pairs of items mildly improved goodness-of-fit indexes. The Catalan DS14 obtained a satisfactory internal consistency for its two subscales NA and SI (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85/0.88), and demonstrates good psychometric properties, being a suitable instrument for use in research in the Catalan population.