Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Impulsividad (UPPS-P) breve en una muestra de adultos argentinos

Abstract

Este estudio tiene como objetivo explorar las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Impulsividad (UPPS-P) en su versión breve en una muestra de adultos argentinos. Se exploró su estructura factorial y consistencia interna, y su validez convergente con los estilos de pensamiento experiencial y racional, así como con la psicopatía. A su vez, se exploró la relación de la impulsividad con el narcisismo y maquiavelismo, controlando los puntajes en psicopatía. Para ello, se seleccionó una muestra intencional de adultos argentinos (N = 517) de entre 18 y 60 años (54 % femenino, edad media 27) reclutados mediante diversas redes sociales. Los participantes respondieron de forma online a dicha escala, un inventario sociodemográfico, así como al Inventario Experiencial Racional y a la Escala de Personalidad Oscura. Los resultados obtenidos se procesaron con el programa SPSS 23, Factor 8.10 y AMOS 16.0. Un análisis en paralelo, sumado a análisis factoriales confirmatorios, revelaron una estructura de cuatro factores: urgencia, búsqueda de sensaciones, falta de premeditación y falta de perseverancia. El factor urgencia incluyó tanto a la urgencia positiva como a la urgencia negativa de la escala UPPS-P. La estructura factorial revelada se asemeja al UPPS, escala de impulsividad previa al UPPS-P, conformada por cuatro factores. Se conservaron la totalidad de ítems de la escala breve. Dos ítems presentaron mayor carga en un factor distinto al que pertenecían en la adaptación. Los valores del alfa de Cronbach fueron adecuados, asegurándose consistencia interna. El alfa de Cronbach de la escala total fue .79. La escala reveló validez convergente con los puntajes de psicopatía y del Inventario Experiencial Racional. Se observaron correlaciones parciales significativas entre maquiavelismo y narcisismo, y diferentes dimensiones de impulsividad, controlando psicopatía. Se demuestra que la escala de impulsividad en su versión breve mantiene adecuadas propiedades psicométricas en una muestra de adultos argentinos.

This study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the Impulsive BehaviorScale (UPPS-P) in its short version in a sampleof Argentinean adults. Its factor structure andinternal consistency were explored, as well asits convergent validity with experiential andrational thinking styles, along with psychopathy.At the same time, the relationship ofimpulsivity with narcissism and Machiavellianismwas explored, controlling the scoresin psychopathy. An intentional sample ofArgentinean adults (N = 517) between 18 and60 years old (54 % female, mean age 27) wasselected. Participants responded on-line to thisscale, a sociodemographic inventory, as well asto the Rational Experiential Inventory and theDark Personality Scale. The results obtainedwere processed with the programs SPSS 23,Factor 8.10, and AMOS 16.0. The samplewas randomly divided into two groups of n= 217 and n = 300. An exploratory factorialanalysis was first performed on the first group,as a calibration study. After that, a confirmatoryanalysis was performed on the secondgroup, as a replication study, since there are noprevious studies on this subject in Argentina. Aparallel analysis was first carried out with theFactor 8.10 program. A number of replications= 100 and percentile representation of simulations=.95 were used. Regarding the exploratoryfactor analysis, The Unweighted LeastSquares method was used along with a Prominrotation. The final solution showed a structureof four factors: urgency, sensation seeking,lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance,explaining 56 % of the variance. Each ofthese factors explained 16 %, 24 %, 10 %, and6 % of the variance, respectively. The urgencyfactor included both the positive and negativeurgency of the UPPS-P scale. The factor structurerevealed is similar to the UPPS, a scale ofimpulsivity prior to the UPPS-P, made up offour factors. All items on the short scale wereretained. Two items loaded better on a differentfactor. Cronbach’s Alphas were adequate, ensuring internal consistency. Cronbach’s α ofthe full scale was.79. Internal consistency wasanalyzed, resulting in Cronbach’s α values of.76 for Emergency;.75 for Sensation Search;.69 for Lack of Premeditation, and.74 forLack of Perseverance. The resulting Cronbachα values are similar to those of the Spanishversion, which presented internal consistenciesbetween.61 and.79. Subsequently, basedon the factor structure found, confirmatoryfactor analysis was carried out on the secondgroup sample. A relatively good fit was foundfor the model, with CFI and TLI values above.90 and the SRMR and RMSEA below.05.The authors’ original model, which includesfive factors, was also tested. The fit was lesssatisfactory compared to the previous model,because of the CFI, TLI, SRMR, and RMSEAindicators, and the difference in Δ from themodels, which was statistically significantat the p <.001 level. Finally, a second-ordermodel was tested with all four dimensions asfirst-order latent variables and impulsivity assecond-order latent variables. The fit was relativelysatisfactory, with CFI and TLI above.90 and SRMR and RMSEA below.05. Thus,the present adjustment revealed a secondorderfactor, as did the English short versionof the UPPS-P (Cyders et al., 2014). The scalerevealed convergent validity with the scoresof psychopathy and the Rational ExperientialInventory. Psychopathy resulted positivelyrelated to impulsivity. In turn, the correlationsbetween the dimensions of impulsivity andthose of the Rational Experiential Inventorywere negative with the rational thinking style-excluding sensation seeking and positive withthe significant ones of the experiential style.Significant partial correlations were observedbetween machiavellianism and narcissism anddifferent dimensions of impulsivity, controllingpsychopathy scores. It is demonstrated that theimpulsivity scale in its short version maintainsadequate psychometric properties in a sampleof Argentinean adults