Western personality models applied in Eastern Europe: Yugoslav data

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Western personality models, including the Five Factor Model and Seven Factor Model, are widely used but require cross-cultural validation.
• Previous research has not extensively tested these models in Eastern European populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To psychometrically evaluate the construct validity and cross-cultural applicability of two Western personality models in Yugoslavia.
• To explore the structure of Axis II personality disorders using these models in a Yugoslav patient sample.
• To assess the models' ability to diagnose and discriminate Axis I mental disorders.

Main Methods:

• The Five Factor Model and Seven Factor Model were applied to 120 subjects (90 psychiatric patients, 30 controls) in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
• Patient groups included individuals with depression, anxiety syndromes, and psychosis (schizophrenia, paranoid type in remission).
• Psychometric testing, including construct validity and cross-cultural applicability assessments, was performed.

Main Results:

• Both Western personality models exhibited solid psychometric validity in the Yugoslavian context.
• Significant diagnostic and structural relationships were found between personality dimensions and Axis I/II diagnoses.
• Personality traits successfully discriminated between subtypes of personality disorders and differentiated Axis I disorders (anxiety, depression, psychosis).

Conclusions:

• The Five Factor Model and Seven Factor Model are psychometrically sound and applicable in diverse cultural settings like Yugoslavia.
• Personality traits offer valuable insights into the diagnosis, structure, and discrimination of personality disorders and Axis I disorders.
• This study highlights the cross-cultural utility of Western personality models in psychiatric assessment.