Abstract
Geriatric researchers and clinicians often have to deal with a lack of valid personality measures for older age groups (e.g.,
Mroczek, Hurt, & Berman, 1999; Zweig 2008), which hampers a reliable assessment of personality in later life. An age-neutral measurement system is one of the basic
conditions for an accurate personality assessment across the lifespan, both longitudinally and cross-sectionally. In the present
study, we empirically investigate the age-neutrality of one of the most widely used personality measures (i.e., the NEO PI-R
(Costa & McCrae, 1992)), by examining potential Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Overall, results indicate that the vast majority (92.9 % at
domain-level and 95 % at facet-level) of the NEO PI-R items was similarly endorsed by younger and older age groups with the
same position on the personality trait of interest, corroborating the NEO PI-R’s age neutrality. However, Differential Test
Functioning (DTF) analyses revealed large DTF for Extraversion, and facet A6 (Tender-Mindedness). Results are discussed in
terms of their implications for using the current format of the NEO PI-R in older aged samples.
Mroczek, Hurt, & Berman, 1999; Zweig 2008), which hampers a reliable assessment of personality in later life. An age-neutral measurement system is one of the basic
conditions for an accurate personality assessment across the lifespan, both longitudinally and cross-sectionally. In the present
study, we empirically investigate the age-neutrality of one of the most widely used personality measures (i.e., the NEO PI-R
(Costa & McCrae, 1992)), by examining potential Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Overall, results indicate that the vast majority (92.9 % at
domain-level and 95 % at facet-level) of the NEO PI-R items was similarly endorsed by younger and older age groups with the
same position on the personality trait of interest, corroborating the NEO PI-R’s age neutrality. However, Differential Test
Functioning (DTF) analyses revealed large DTF for Extraversion, and facet A6 (Tender-Mindedness). Results are discussed in
terms of their implications for using the current format of the NEO PI-R in older aged samples.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10862-012-9287-4
- Authors
- Joke Van den Broeck, Department of Clinical and Lifespan Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Gina Rossi, Department of Clinical and Lifespan Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Eva Dierckx, Department of Clinical and Lifespan Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Barbara De Clercq, Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Journal Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Online ISSN 1573-3505
- Print ISSN 0882-2689