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A five-factor measure of dependent personality traits
Whitney L Gore1, Jennifer R Presnall, Joshua D Miller
1Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 111E Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40526, USA. wlgore2@uky.edu
Journal of Personality Assessment
|April 6, 2012
Summary
This study validates the Five-Factor Dependency Inventory (FFDI) for measuring dependent personality traits within the Five-Factor Model (FFM). The FFDI accurately assesses dependency, offering a new tool for psychological research and clinical assessment.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Dependent personality traits are often conceptualized within broader personality frameworks.
- Existing measures may not fully capture the nuances of dependency within the Five-Factor Model (FFM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity of a new measure of dependent personality traits, the Five-Factor Dependency Inventory (FFDI).
- To assess dependent personality traits as maladaptive variants of FFM facets.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 383 undergraduates.
- Convergent validity was tested against FFM measures, dependency trait scales, and dependent personality disorder measures.
- Discriminant validity was assessed against FFM facets from other domains.
- Incremental validity was examined by the FFDI's ability to explain variance in dependency measures beyond existing scales.
Main Results:
- The Five-Factor Dependency Inventory (FFDI) scales demonstrated convergent validity with related measures.
- Discriminant validity was supported, indicating the FFDI measures distinct constructs.
- The FFDI scales showed incremental validity, explaining unique variance in dependency measures.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide robust evidence for the validity of the FFDI.
- The FFDI offers a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing dependency from an FFM perspective.
- This measure can enhance research and clinical understanding of dependent personality traits.
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