Validation of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-A): Portuguese-Lisbon version

Abstract Background The TEMPS-A has been validated in 8 languages, the original being American English, and includes among others such Latin languages as Italian, French, and Spanish-Buenos Aires. This is the first Portuguese-Lisbon validation. Methods The sample included 1173 students from six diff...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of affective disorders 2008-12, Vol.111 (2), p.193-203
Main Authors: Figueira, M. Luisa, Caeiro, Lara, Ferro, Ana, Severino, Lara, Duarte, Pedro M, Abreu, Manuela, Akiskal, Hagop S, Akiskal, Kareen K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis
Anxiety Disorders - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Cyclothymic Disorder - diagnosis
Cyclothymic Disorder - psychology
Depression
Depressive Disorder - diagnosis
Depressive Disorder - psychology
European Continental Ancestry Group
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Gender differences
Humans
Irritable Mood
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Personality Inventory - statistics & numerical data
Portugal
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychometrics
Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Reproducibility of Results
Sex Factors
Students - psychology
Students - statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Techniques and methods
Temperament
TEMPS-A
Translations
Undergraduate students
Universities
University students
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Summary:Abstract Background The TEMPS-A has been validated in 8 languages, the original being American English, and includes among others such Latin languages as Italian, French, and Spanish-Buenos Aires. This is the first Portuguese-Lisbon validation. Methods The sample included 1173 students from six different universities and representing most disciplines (such as medicine, law, humanities, engineering, etc.), both sexes (67% female), and ages between 17 and 58 ( x ± SD = 21 ± 4). Standard psychometric tests were used for internal consistency, validity, and factor analysis. Results The study upheld the 5 Factor proposed structure of TEMPS-A. Cronbach α varied from 0.67 for the depressive and 0.83 for the anxious, with the others in-between. We could retain all 110 items of the Interview Schedule. The highest mean scores were found for the hyperthymic, and the lowest for the irritable. As expected, depressive and anxious subscales had strong correlations, followed by the cyclothymic and anxious, and cyclothymic and irritable; in exploratory factor analysis, these subscales constituted Factor I, contrasted to the depressive and the hyperthymic as a biphasic continuum (Factor II). Females scored higher on the depressive, cyclothymic and anxious, and the males on hyperthymic and irritable. Overall, however, no temperament was “dominant” in this population, all temperaments z -scores being 3.3–4%! Limitations Study limited to university students of young age. Conclusions TEMPS-A Lisbon is a reliable and valid instrument. The only relatively weak factor is the depressive, which is similar to other language versions. Gender differences and correlations of temperaments are generally similar to other countries. What appears relatively special to the Portuguese is the relatively “balanced” mix of temperaments in this university student population.
ISSN:0165-0327
1573-2517
DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2008.03.001