French version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-fr): psychometric properties in young adults

The Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO) is a self-assessment instrument designed to measure the level of personality organization. In the present study, we developed and validated a French version (IPO-fr) of this instrument in a population of young adults. Its validity was established on the basis of two studies examining (1) its internal structure, and (2) its convergent validity with the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ).

In the first study, we assessed the reliability of the internal structure of the French form of the IPO (IPO-fr) in a nonclinical population. Our sample comprised 602 first- and second-year psychology students, with a mean age of 19.40 years (SD = 1.95). The second study assessed the convergent validity of the questionnaire in nonclinical samples, with regard to the three clusters (A, B, and C) of personality disorders, positive and negative affect, and aggression and depressive symptoms. The sample for this second study consisted of 305 first-, second- and third-year psychology students, with a mean age of 19.83 years (SD = 2.12).

The French version of the IPO is shorter than the English: 40 items instead of 57. Its internal clarity and its discriminative capacity make it easier to interpret.

This study has established the relevance of the IPO-fr as a reliable and brief instrument for assessing individual personality. It could make a major contribution to the screening of personality pathology in the French population and to the assessment of treatment programs.