The Affective Neuroscience theory identifies seven neurobiological systems (SEEK, CARE, PLAY, SADNESS, FEAR, ANGER, and LUST) that are phylogenetically and ontogenetically determined, shared by all mammals, and localized in ancient subcortical brain regions. These systems, influenced by genetic and environmental factors, shape individual differences. A new instrument, the Affective Neuroscience Personality Scale (ANPS), was created to measure the expression of these primary emotional systems, foundational to human personality. A short version, the ANPS-SF, has been released but not validated in Italy. This study aimed to adapt and validate the ANPS-SF by examining its psychometric properties. A large sample of clinical and non-clinical young adults and adolescents ( = 827) also completed instruments assessing external validity, including the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and others. Results indicated that the ANPS-SF possesses satisfactory psychometric properties, highlighted by strong internal consistency and correlations with other measures. A two-higher-order-factors solution was identified, revealing General Positive Affect and General Negative Affect. Significant differences were noted between clinical and non-clinical groups, as well as across age and gender. Overall, the ANPS-SF can be effectively utilized in Italy, providing insights into primary emotional systems and their interaction with individual characteristics, relevant for both clinical and non-clinical populations.

The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) is a widely used screening instrument for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. There is active debate about what the PCL-5 actually measures (i.e., PTSD specific symptoms vs general distress or other transdiagnostic factors), especially when positive screenings are observed using total sum scores. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) is a broadband clinical instrument used to assess a wide array of self-reported psychological and behavioral difficulties within an established hierarchical structure. Examining the PCL-5 together with the MMPI-3 may clarify the nature of the factors underlying the PCL-5, which can separately contribute to elevated total scores on the instrument. Using a previously well-studied sample of United States veterans and their romantic partners ( = 386), we subjected the PCL-5 items and MMPI-3 scales to a series of conjoint exploratory factor analyses. In this sample, PCL-5 items could be largely explained by three correlated but relatively distinctive factors (affect/cognitions, traumatic intrusion/avoidance, and hyperarousal). Conjoint analysis with the MMPI-3 showed that the PCL-5 affective/cognitive items were differentially saturated with a nonspecific demoralization/distress factor. The PCL-5 hyperarousal factor cross-loaded primarily with MMPI-3 somatic and cognitive scales. The PCL-5 intrusions/avoidance factor cross-loaded minimally with any MMPI-3 scales, identifying that factor's content as relatively distinctive among the present indicators. We contextualize these findings within recent research and clinical trends that reconsider PTSD through a multidimensional lens. We also discuss clinical implications of these findings; in particular, examining individual PCL-5 symptom groupings may reveal insight into psychological and behavioral processes with greater specificity to posttraumatic symptomatology.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV (MCMI-IV) is a psychological assessment tool commonly used in Veteran Affairs (VA) settings. However, no research has examined the MCMI-IV symptom validity scales in the veteran population, where high rates of response bias can occur. This study examined convergent validity of the MCMI-IV scales to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) validity measures, identified base rates of invalid MCMI-IV validity scores in the veteran population, and explored alternative cutoff scores. All MCMI-IVs administered in the VA (04/2019 - 08/2024,  = 6,466), using data from the Corporate Data Warehouse, were examined. MCMI-IV protocols were correlated with same day administrations of the MMPI-2-RF ( = 1,401) using Spearman's correlations. Disclosure and Debasement positively correlated with overreporting validity scales and negatively correlated with underreporting scales on the MMPI-2-RF, while Desirability showed the opposite pattern (all < .001). Additionally, the Inconsistency scale positively correlated with MMPI-2-RF non-content validity scales. Less than 1% of MCMI-IV of protocols met the test manual's criteria for invalidity, a significant departure from invalid rates reported on other measures administered to veterans. Diagnostic accuracy analyses suggested new cutoff scores, specifically that overreporting be identified by X Disclosure base rate score (BRS) ≥ 87 and Z Debasement BRS ≥ 84, and underreporting identified by X Disclosure BRS ≤ 49 and Y Desirability BRS ≥ 74. Results suggest that while the MCMI-IV validity indices measure intended constructs, more optimal cutoffs are presented for the veteran population.

Integration of multiple data sources is central to evidence-based clinical psychological assessment. In adult assessments (in contrast to youth), data are typically obtained solely from clients; however, extant research suggests collateral ratings provide valuable additional information across the lifespan. The current study examined criterion-related and incremental validity of collateral-report the ASEBA Adult Behavior Checklist (ABCL) in association with MMPI-3 Restructured Clinical and select Specific Problems Scales. We expected 1) modest correspondence between MMPI-3 scales and corresponding ABCL scales, consistent with meta-analytic findings on self*collateral correlations (e.g., Achenbach et al., 2005); and 2) collateral-report to significantly increment variance accounted for by self-report in predicting congruent MMPI-3 scales. The sample included 107 undergraduate students (61.8% White) who completed self-report measures and recruited a collateral reporter (mostly friends/roommates). Correlations between hypothesized MMPI-3 and ABCL scales ranged from -0.00 (ABCL Intrusive-MMPI-3 Activation) to .43 (ABCL Anxious-Depressed-MMPI-3 Demoralization). Incremental validity of collateral-report (small-medium effects) was demonstrated in seven of 12 models (58.3%). Findings indicate correspondence between ABCL collateral-report and congruent MMPI-3 scales is modest and variable and extend the criterion-related validity evidence available for the MMPI-3. Results are consistent with extant literature arguing that collateral-report provides unique incremental information, reaffirming the utility of multi-informant data in the adult assessment context.

Perceived social impressions - namely, how individuals believe they come across in social situations - are often evaluated by engaging in social comparison. Such evaluations may shape cognition, affect, and behavior. However, a validated measure to assess social impression comparisons is lacking. Therefore, we developed and validated the Social Impression Comparison Scale (SICS) that assesses the frequency of upward and downward social comparison of social impressions, the perceived discrepancy to the standard, and the affective impact of these comparisons during the last three weeks, in two studies (s = 478/507). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesized two-factor model, representing upward and downward comparison, displaying better model fit than a one-factor model. The scale demonstrated measurement invariance across gender, probable social anxiety disorder diagnosis, and studies. Upward comparison correlated with comparison-related variables, mental health, and other relevant variables, supporting the scale's validity cross-sectionally, during an Ecological Momentary Assessment, and at the three-month follow-up. Downward comparison showed less consistent correlations. In multiple regression models, all comparison indicators (frequency, discrepancy, and affect) of upward and downward comparisons showed distinct associations with specific outcomes. The SICS is free-to-use, efficient, and appears reliable and valid, with broad applicability across several contexts.

Social dominance orientation (SDO) is the generalized preference for hierarchy across groups. It is currently measured through the two-dimensional (i.e., physical dominance and anti-egalitarianism) SDO scale. However, a complete testing of its factor structure across varied populations is highly required. A caste-based society perhaps reflects a stronger socio-cultural expression of social dominance theory. In the present study, we examined the factor structure of the SDO scale in such a society, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on a sample of 1,020 participants (age:  = 19.5,  = 2.07 years). The results reported that Ho et al.'s two-factor model was one of the best good-fit models. The SDO scale was strongly invariant across gender, caste, religion, and region. Moreover, men and higher caste had higher SDO. The present study shows that the asymmetrical expression of the method effect across dimensions is a possible problem in the SDO conceptualizations. It supports the cross-cultural validity of SDO, suggests new ideas on its factor structure, and partially establishes a reliable and valid Hindi version of the SDO scale. Relevance to social dominance theory and interventions has been discussed.

The longitudinal dynamics of mattering, including measurement invariance across time and patterns of stability versus change within individuals, remain largely unexplored. This study investigated these properties for three mattering dimensions (general mattering, anti-mattering, and fear of not-mattering) among Chinese adolescents across different contexts, assessing their psychometric validity, test-retest reliability, developmental trajectories, and gender-specific patterns. The General Mattering Scale, Anti-Mattering Scale, and Fear of Not-Mattering Inventory were administered ( = 645;  = 17.02, SD = 0.63; 49.6% female) at three time points over a 5-month period. Longitudinal measurement invariance was assessed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Temporal stability was evaluated through test-retest reliability. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) examined intraindividual changes. Gender differences were tested using gender-stratified CFAs, stability analyses, and trajectory models. As result, the longitudinal measurement invariance was supported for all three scales across time points and genders. Test-retest reliability showed moderate-to-good stability, with females consistently higher than males. HLM revealed linear increases in general mattering for both genders, but only females showed significant anti-mattering changes, peaking at school reentry. Fear of not mattering remained stable for both genders. Findings reveal gender-specific mattering dynamics: females showed higher stability with synchronized responses to transitions, whereas males displayed lower stability and more idiosyncratic fluctuations.

The assessment of personality traits in children under ten has gained increasing attention in literature. Much of the interest in assessing personality traits stems from associations between Big Five traits and life outcomes. The Pictorial Personality Traits Questionnaire for Children (PPTQ-C) integrates pictorial stimuli with simplified sentences to measure the Big Five in this age group. This study aimed to evaluate the validity evidence of the Brazilian version of the PPTQ-C. We assessed 533 children ( = 8.32, SD = 1.38; 53% girls). Using multiple analytical techniques, we found weak support for the five-factor structure and response patterns indicating social desirability. We discuss the implications of these findings for pictorial personality assessment in young children.

Although ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is becoming increasingly popular, the approach has historically relied on unvalidated single-item assessments of constructs. The Super Brief-Pathological Narcissism Inventory (SB-PNI) assesses narcissistic grandiosity and vulnerability using 12 items and is well-suited to address this limitation in the narcissism literature. However, its validity in an EMA context has not been examined. To this end, 88 undergraduates responded to prompts 7 times a day for 10 days to assess state grandiosity and vulnerability in their daily lives. Results suggest that the two-factor structure of the SB-PNI is replicated at the between and within person levels. Although ICCs suggested that 80% of the variability in SB-PNI scales was occurring at the between person level, SB-PNI states were significantly associated with PNI traits, self-enhancing contexts, and psychological and emotional states in expected ways. Nomological homomorphy analyses suggested that the nomological networks for B-PNI and SB-PNI scales were positively and significantly correlated at the between person level. However, the network of associations was nonsignificant for the grandiosity scales at the within person level. Together, these findings provide support for the construct validity of SB-PNI scores and support the use of the SB-PNI in future studies of narcissistic dynamics.

We examined the therapeutic utility of personalized psychotherapy informed by social cognitive personality assessment. Specifically, Person in Context Assessment (PICA) assesses both the social cognitive personality structures (i.e., temperament, self-schemata, goals, and moral standards) and the personality processes (i.e., situation-based patterns of appraisals, affects, behaviors) characterizing an individual. Both the client and the therapist received PICA feedback and specific therapeutic recommendations targeting social cognitive personality structures and processes that appeared to contribute most to the client's distress and dysfunction. After the therapist began implementing these PICA-informed interventions, the client reported significant decreases in depressive symptoms that remained stable over two months, culminating in a successful termination of therapy. Evidence suggested that decreases in depression coincided with the client showing improvements in the personality structures and processes that were targeted by the PICA-informed therapeutic interventions. The client's perceptions of therapy credibility and expectancy, as well as their motivation to change, also appeared to improve. However, there was no evidence that the PICA feedback improved the client's self-understanding or self-efficacy. Our findings provide initial support for PICA's therapeutic utility.

The HEXACO model defines personality across six dimensions: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness (vs. Anger), Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience. One of its key strengths is that it is based on linguistic research that has been consistently replicated across various cultures. The HEXACO Adjective Scale (HAS), developed in Italian, consists of 60 adjectives designed to evaluate the dimensions of personality according to the HEXACO model. The present paper presents a cross-cultural study assessing the validity of the HAS across French, Dutch, and English. We translated the HAS into each language and administered the translated scales to 319 Dutch-speaking (Belgium) participants, 317 French-speaking (France) participants, and 436 English-speaking (US) participants. CFAs confirm that each language replicates the original structure. Moreover, we obtained evidence of strong invariance across languages, providing important support in favor of measurement invariance. The internal consistency of the scales is satisfactory and in line with the Italian version. Similarly, the prediction of behavioral criteria supports the validity of the translated HAS in different languages. Overall, the HAS shows very good psychometric properties and has all the necessary characteristics to be used in future studies. The strong invariance between languages supports the replicability of the HEXACO model across cultures.

Epistemic trust is the capacity of an individual to assimilate new information and engage with their surroundings. This study focused on the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust, and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ) among individuals seeking treatment for common mental health issues ( = 378) compared to a non-clinical group ( = 357). The study aimed to validate the ETMCQ clinically, assess its consistency across clinical groups and community controls, and explore the relationship between epistemic attitudes (trust, mistrust, and credulity), mentalizing, and mental health problems by comparing the two groups. The ETMCQ's three-factor structure showed acceptable reliability and validity in the clinical setting. The measurement invariance analyses showed complete metric consistency but only partial scalar and strict consistency, with certain items not aligning across groups (Items 1, 3, 4 for scalar consistency; 2, 12, 14 for strict consistency). The results indicated that difficulties in mentalizing and increased levels of epistemic trust, mistrust, and credulity were linked to a greater likelihood of experiencing clinical distress. These outcomes underline the effectiveness of the ETMCQ in distinguishing between clinical and non-clinical individuals. However, researchers should use caution with the epistemic trust component of the questionnaire which appears to reflect a paradoxical epistemic attitude.

The World Health Organization five-item Well-Being Index has been widely used to assess adolescents' well-being. However, its structural properties and measurement invariance at both between- and within-country levels have been underexamined in this population. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Relying on a nationally representative sample of 9,007 school attendees in Luxembourg ( = 14.7; = 2.4; 48.7% female) and on both classical test theory and item response theory, I assessed the scalability, reliability, monotonicity, factorial structure, convergent validity, and sociodemographic measurement invariance of the WHO-5. Measurement invariance was investigated across groups differing in terms of academic performance, country of birth, language, sex, socioeconomic status, and type of school. The WHO-5 exhibited strong scalability (Loevinger's = .550) as well as satisfactory reliability (McDonald's ω = .84), monotonicity, factorial validity, and convergent validity. Measurement invariance held across all the examined subgroups. This study suggests that the WHO-5 is a sound, unidimensional measure of well-being that can be used for comparisons across various sociodemographic adolescent groups.

This study evaluated the Personality Inventory for Brief Form (PID-5-BF) as a screening tool for personality disorder (PD) in adolescents. Data from clinical ( = 127) and community ( = 139) samples of adolescents aged 12 to 17 were analyzed. Exploratory structural equation modeling supported the five-factor structure, with good to excellent internal consistency. Nomological validity was demonstrated through correlations with other measures of personality and psychopathology. All PID-5-BF domains, except antagonism, differed significantly between adolescents with borderline PD (BPD), non-BPD inpatients, and community controls. However, only negative affectivity showed significantly higher mean scores among inpatient youths with BPD compared to those without BPD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses indicated that only negative affectivity among the PID-5-BF domains demonstrated diagnostic accuracy in the lower moderate range for identifying BPD, whereas the total score and other domains showed limited performance. In comparison, a measure of identity diffusion demonstrated stronger discriminative ability. Overall, these findings suggest that the PID-5-BF might be a useful tool for identifying pathological personality trait-related risk factors associated with general psychopathology. However, its utility might be more limited in accurately detecting BPD specifically within adolescent populations.

Recent advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) offer new assessment approaches that can help overcome the limitations of traditional Likert-item scales in measuring complex, subjective constructs. To demonstrate this, we introduce and validate a novel LLM-based methodology for psychological assessment by applying it to Future Self-Continuity (FSC), the perceived connection, including similarity, vividness, and positivity, between present and future selves. We used an LLM (Claude 3.5 Sonnet) to perform natural language processing (NLP) on transcripts of audio responses to 15 theory-based interview prompts. Data from 164 MTurk participants (including 93 with past-year suicide ideation, who were oversampled to examine clinical utility) yielded quantitative NLP-FSC scores that significantly correlated with the Future Self-Continuity Questionnaire (FSCQ;  = 0.57), supporting convergent validity. A Bland-Altman analysis also indicated acceptable agreement. Replication using one older and two updated LLM versions confirmed the method's robustness (inter-model total score  = 0.91, 0.88, and 0.84). Exploratory analysis using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQR) found that the NLP assessment captured unique variance in the perceived likelihood of a future suicide attempt beyond the FSCQ, suggesting potential clinical implications. This validated NLP approach offers a nuanced assessment of FSC, advancing psychological measurement methodology in research and, potentially, clinical practice.

The primary goal of this study was to develop a concise, theoretically grounded tool -the Holistic Wellbeing Measure (HWM)- that captures both hedonic and eudaimonic facets of wellbeing. Items for the HWM were generated through a careful review of existing wellbeing scales and literature, followed by expert consultation, pilot testing, and iterative refinement to ensure conceptual coverage, clarity, and face validity. Data were collected from three distinct samples: adolescents ( = 453), young adults ( = 361), and adults ( = 358). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure, with 12 items reflecting independent but related hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing dimensions. The measure demonstrated strong internal reliability and evidence of convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity across all age groups. Regression analyses further indicated that the HWM contributed unique variance to the prediction of general health indicators (physical, social, and mental health) and psychological problems (depression, anxiety, and somatization), above the effects of gender, age, and psychological wellbeing. These results suggest that the HWM is a valid and reliable measure for assessing both aspects of wellbeing across age groups and can support strategies aimed at promoting overall mental health.

Since its inception, the European Social Survey (ESS) has recognized the importance of studying human values because of their potential to contribute to our understanding of individuals and societies. All ESS rounds have included a shortened 21-item version of the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ21) for measuring the 10 values of Schwartz's original theory and the underlying 4 higher-order dimensions. This scale has seen widespread use in value studies, not limited to those based on the ESS. In 2012, Schwartz and colleagues proposed a refinement of the theory that identified 19 narrower values derived from the original 10. This theory has been cited in thousands of studies. The present research explores whether single items of the PVQ21 can be used to properly measure the 19 values of Schwartz's refined theory. A sample of 645 Italian adults (56.1% females, M=34.66) completed the PVQ21 and the PVQ-RR, an instrument developed to measure the refined values. We examined the correspondence between each PVQ21 item and the refined values on both theoretical and empirical grounds. Results suggested that the PVQ21 allows researchers to effectively capture most refined values. We discuss findings regarding their implications, possibilities, and limitations for measuring the refined values in the ESS.

The Multidimensional Scale of Emotion Regulation for Adolescents (MSERA) was initially developed to assess adolescents' emotion-regulation strategies in Mexican education contexts. Given the lack of instruments to measure adolescents' emotion-regulation strategies in Chinese educational settings, the current study adapted the English version of the scale to Chinese (C-MSERA) and provided initial validity evidence to support the use of the scale. The scale was translated into simplified Chinese. A sample of 1,798 Chinese adolescents reported their emotion-regulation strategies using the C-MSERA. Factor analysis supported the eight-factor structure of the C-MSERA, and the instrument's concurrent validity and internal consistency were also supported. The findings indicate that C-MSERA produces reliable and valid scores for measuring adolescents' emotion-regulation strategies in Chinese education settings.

Firearm violence, and especially firearm suicide, is a growing public health concern in the United States that requires a multidisciplinary approach to address. We argue that assessment psychologists are particularly well-suited to enhance understanding of firearm owners' individual differences, perceptions, and beliefs. Creating a robust literature at the nexus of personality, assessment, and firearms is vital to the development and implementation of effective firearm injury prevention interventions tailored to the firearm-owning population. In addition to reviewing the current literature and providing a call to action for assessment psychologists, we present a small exploratory study that examines relationships between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) Substantive scales, firearm ownership, and beliefs regarding the relationship between suicide and firearms. Our sample included 99 undergraduate students, 22 of which (22.2%) owned firearms. Preliminary findings suggest that firearm owners may be less prone to internalizing distress relative to non-firearm owners, and several internalizing scales were positively associated with the belief that firearms in the home and unsecure firearm storage increase suicide risk. We offer some potential implications of these preliminary findings and make recommendations for ways in which assessment psychologists can contribute to firearm injury prevention research.

Informed by psychoanalytic, humanistic, and cybernetic perspectives on defensive functioning, the present work established the psychometric structure and initial validation of the 10-item Self-Presentational Defensiveness Scale (SPDS). Across four studies (total  = 1,634), we assessed the item-level observability of the initial 20-item SPDS (Study 1), explored the psychometric structure of the initial SPDS in two separate samples (Studies 2 and 3), and established the psychometric properties of the final 10-item SPDS (Study 4), along with preliminary evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. The SPDS demonstrated (a) item content that was rated as more observable compared to other commonly used measures of defensive functioning, (b) a robust substantive self-presentational defensiveness factor, (c) measurement invariance across gender (i.e., male and female) and measurement type (i.e., self and informant ratings), (d) substantial self-other agreement (i.e., = .42), and (e) appropriate correlations with theoretically related constructs (e.g., neuroticism). These results demonstrate the reliability and initial validity of the SPDS and suggest that self-presentational defensiveness reflects a lack of personal accountability when confronted with negative self-relevant stimuli.

The Fear of Failure as Motivation Scale (FOFAMS) addresses the motivational role of fear of failure, which existing measures typically overlook in favor of its negative effects. FOFAMS was developed using a rational-theoretical approach to fill this gap, offering a new tool for examining this aspect in achievement contexts. Two studies examined the scale's psychometric properties. Study 1 involved item development and an exploratory factor analysis, refining the scale by removing conceptually and psychometrically weaker items. Study 2, with samples of students ( = 385) and sports participants ( = 382), supported the unidimensional structure through confirmatory factor analysis and contributed evidence supporting the scale's construct validity. FOFAMS showed significant correlations with other constructs hypothesized to relate to fear of failure as motivation. This questionnaire provides a unique perspective, enhancing the understanding of fear of failure's positive influences on goal pursuit and achievement, and contributing to the broader nomological network of this construct.

The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) was developed to assess alexithymia as a multidimensional construct consistent with the attention-appraisal model. This study evaluated the hierarchical structure of the PAQ using Goldberg's bass-ackwards method across student and community samples. Results consistently revealed a general alexithymia factor at the highest level of the hierarchy, with limited evidence of stable or distinct dimensions at the lower levels. Although some components, such as externally oriented thinking and positive emotion valence items showed partial differentiation, the overall pattern did not support the proposed five-factor dimensional model, indicating that the PAQ does not provide a reliable multidimensional assessment of the alexithymia construct. While the PAQ was developed to provide a multidimensional profile by incorporating both positive and negative emotion processing, our results indicate that it is best conceptualized and interpreted as measuring a single, unidimensional construct.

The Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2; Soto & John, 2017a) was developed to improve on the limitations of the original BFI by balancing the number of positively and negatively worded items and establishing a hierarchical structure for the Big Five traits. However, as the BFI-2 employs a Likert format with agree-disagree options, it suffers from common problems of the Likert format, including acquiescence bias and method effects due to the negatively worded items. In this research, we converted the BFI-2 into three alternative formats: Expanded, Item-Specific-Full, and Item-Specific-Light. These formats have tailored response options for each item and avoid the use of negatively worded items, thereby addressing the issues associated with the Likert format. Across two studies ( = 1,335 and 1,451), we randomly assigned Canadian undergraduate students to complete the BFI-2 in the original Likert format or one of the three alternative formats. Results showed that the Likert and alternative formats exhibit similar predictive validity. However, the alternative formats-particularly the Expanded format-showed better psychometric properties, including enhanced factor structure, increased reliability, and possibly reduced careless responding. We recommend that researchers consider adopting the BFI-2 in these alternative formats and adapting other Likert scales to these alternative formats.

This study evaluates the assessment of the well-being of children and preadolescents by examining the psychometric properties of the Stirling Children's Well-Being Scale (SCWBS). Given the growing concerns about children's mental health, accurate and easily administrable measurement tools are urgently needed. This research represents the first in-depth investigation of the SCWBS's factor structure and psychometric characteristics in the largest sample of children under 15 years using multidimensional item response theory. Engaging 1701 children from fourth and sixth grades, we analyzed three SCWBS models: unidimensional, two-factor, and bi-factor models. We also investigated measurement invariance in gender and grade categories, as well as the convergent validity of the scale. The results suggest that, for this age group, the most appropriate approach to evaluate well-being is a unidimensional one, rather than separating it into subjective and psychological well-being. Additionally, we propose a three-point Likert scale for younger participants. Thus, based on our results and previous findings, we hypothesize that the sample under study perceived well-being per se, not specific domains of well-being.

Although kindness has been a subject of study for psychologists, the lack of consensus in defining and operationalizing this concept poses challenges in conducting reliable comparisons of research findings and frequently leads to inconsistencies in outcomes. The development of a tool that accounts for the multifaceted nature of kindness could facilitate progress in this area. A review of the research suggests that kindness is a complex construct, which can be classified as an attitude consisting of three dimensions: 1) emotional, related to the experience of positive emotions toward other people; 2) cognitive, manifested in beliefs about other people or humanity in general; and 3) behavioral, associated with the undertaking of specific actions aimed at improving the situation of others. A review of research and literature led to the construction of the Kind Attitude Scale (KAS). Study 1 aimed to verify its factor structure. It confirmed the validity of the proposed model, with the three dimensions of kindness. Study 2 further corroborated the three-factor model of kindness by examining the theoretical validity of the KAS. The obtained results confirmed the proposed three-factor model, indicating that the KAS is a reliable, gender-invariant measure and can be utilized in future research on kindness.

While prior research has explored the relationship between Object Relations Theory (ORT) and the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD), comprehensive comparisons across diverse clinical populations and methodologies remain limited. This study investigated the predictive accuracy of AMPD and ORT in identifying personality psychopathology using neural network models within a mixed sample of 639 participants (229 non-clinical undergraduates, 410 psychiatric inpatients). Data were collected using Persian translations of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Self-Report (LPFS-SR), the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) (AMPD measures), and the Structured Interview of Personality Organization-Revised (STIPO-R) (ORT measure). Results indicated significant differences in all subscales of both models between clinical and non-clinical groups. Notably, the borderline personality disorder group showed elevated scores on specific STIPO-R subscales and all AMPD constructs except empathy. Neural network models achieved over 65% accuracy in predicting group membership, with AMPD slightly surpassing ORT (66%+ vs. 65%+). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated high sensitivity for both models, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.79 to 0.94. These findings underscore the significant utility of both AMPD and ORT for the assessment, early identification, and diagnosis of personality disorders.

Using data from three Chinese samples (s = 611, 403, 299) collected using both monolingual and bilingual designs, we evaluated the psychometric properties and factor structure of the NEO Five-Factor Inventory 3 (FFI-3), the short form of the NEO Personality Inventory 3 (PI-3), for use in Chinese communities. Although the FFI-3 contains only a quarter of the 240 items of the PI-3, exploratory structural equation modeling revealed that it maintained the five-factor structure of the long form and achieved acceptable levels of internal consistency, cross-language validity, and test-retest reliability. The correlation coefficients between the short-form factors and the corresponding long-form factors were all above .86, indicating a strong association between the short and long versions of the scale. Taken together, our findings suggest that the FFI-3 is a viable tool for mapping personality in Chinese communities.

Object relations (OR) scales were recently developed for the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank by Rucker and Krishnamurthy (2023). This study examined the psychometric properties of these scales with  = 160 psychiatric inpatients by evaluating the factor structure, internal reliability, and criterion validity with instruments measuring object relations features. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated a two-factor model was a better fit than a one-factor model; however, neither were excellent fits. Interrater reliability was excellent for the Self-Representation ( = .95), Other-Representation ( = .96), and Total OR scales ( = .97). Internal consistency reliability for the Total OR scale was acceptable at α = .72, but Self-Representation (α = .67) and Other-Representation (α = .58) subscales were in the clinically suboptimal range. Construct validity analyses demonstrated several conceptually relevant convergences with scales from the Inventory for Personality Organization and Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory, but unconvincing divergences. Group differences in RISB OR scores were observed between inpatients with and without a personality disorder. Altogether, these findings provide mixed psychometric support for the RISB OR scales and raise doubts about their use as standalone instruments. Results suggest a need for continued reevaluation, if not refinement.

This invited commentary evaluates the impact of Lakhani and colleagues who reported on two studies aimed at developing and evaluating a new tool for the assessment of mentalizing capacity. The commentary places the work of Lakhani et al. in the context of routine clinical care and discusses additional approaches to the assessment of mentalizing that may be considered. The commentary furthermore highlights the importance of the assessment of mentalizing in the context of other, more descriptive approaches to personality assessment.