EPQ-R Used to Examine Personality in Adults Born Prematurely
The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised (EPQ-R) is a well established measure of personality and may be used in a variety of contexts ranging from personnel selection to clinical research. The EPQ-R measures personality characteristics based on three scales: Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Psychoticism (including a validity check 'Lie' scale). The EPQ-R Short Form is a 57-item version of this personality assessment. The Short Form utilizes the same three scales as the EPQ-R to decrease administration time without significantly deviating from the theoretical rationale of the traditional version.
(Continued from previous)
The EPQ-R Short Form was used as a measure of adult personality to examine the effects of very preterm birth (VPT; a birth taking place before 33 weeks gestation) on personality (Allin, Rooney, Cuddy, & Wyatt, 2006). They found that young adults who were born VPT have different personality styles from individuals born full term and this may be caused by various genetic and environmental components associated with preterm births.
Although it has already been documented that VPT is associated with neurodevelopmental disruption, there have been few studies that follow premature babies through adulthood. This study group consisted of 150 individuals who were born VPT between 1979 and 1981 at a hospital in London. Neurological and cognitive development were assessed at one and four years of corrected age, and further at eight and fourteen years of age.
The control group first consisted of fifty-three infants who were delivered at term (38-42 weeks) at the same hospital in 1979-80. More participants were recruited and the control group increased to 67, all of whom completed the EPQ-R Short Form. A comparison of EPQ-R Short Form scores was made between the VPT and term groups.
An analysis of covariance was conducted, controlling for age and social class. Tests showed that the VPT group had significantly lower Extraversion scores, higher Neuroticism scores, and higher Lie scores than
the control group. However, Psychoticism scores were not significantly different between the two groups.
The researchers indicated that the reasons for these differences, or lack thereof, are complex and are likely influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. For example, they argue that parenting and child rearing styles may be different for those born prematurely. With more parental monitoring and greater restrictions placed on a child's behavior, levels of neuroticism may increase for VPT babies as they age. Other traits, such as reduced self-directedness and increased harm avoidance may play an important role. Other influences, which may include genetic factors, peer relations, and maternal antenatal well-being should be considered in future research.
As demonstrated in this study, the EPQ-R Short Form is a useful measure of personality. The Short Form was developed as a time saving tool for situations where the full length assessment is not feasible or practical. The internal consistency reliabilities are slightly lower for the Short Form, ranging from .57 to .86. This is an understandable trade-off, as there tends to be a slight reduction in the internal consistency of a scale when the number of items is reduced. Therefore, the long form is recommended whenever possible, even though there is sufficient evidence to suggest the Short Form is an acceptable alternative.
The EPQ-R is designed for valid use across many different practical and research applications, including personnel selection, clinical diagnosis, and experimental research.
Finally, the EPQ-R has also been useful in educational and career guidance counseling to help individuals consider how academic achievement may be related to characteristics of their personality as they work to achieve their long-term career goals.
Reference
Allin, M., Rooney, M., Cuddy, M., Wyatt, J., (2006). Personality in young adults who are born preterm. Pediatrics, 117, 309-314.
|
