Development and Psychometric Properties of Adult Temperament Scale: A reliable measure for adjustment and psychopathology

Objective: To develop a reliable self report measure to screen the temperamental tendencies among adults so conflicts can work out rather to shade into behavioral disorder. Methods: Initial item pool was developed through literature review and from interviews. Pearson correlation, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and reliability testing were used to develop a reliable Adult Temperament Scale. Results: Initial 80 item scale was developed based on the theory of Hippocrates and Galen typology. Scale turned into 72 items after expert evaluation and pilot testing. From test-retest reliability (Sample: 370, Age range, 18-60 years), 53 highly correlated items were screened out with the interval of 15 days. For factor analysis, sample of 489 adult population was selected from four cities of Punjab (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujrat, Rawalpindi), through Exploratory Factor Analysis finally 26 items (KMO=.92) were becoming the part of the study. Confirmatory factor analysis pertained the theoretical model with a good model fit indices (CFI=.936, CMIN/DF=3.6, GFI=.851, AGFI= .822, RMSEA=.07) into four subcategories and were labeled accordingly (Choleric, Melancholic, Phlegmatic and Sanguine). The Findings revealed a reliable measure (Alpha Reliability of sub scales =.968 choleric, .942 phlegmatic, .922 melancholic and .943sanguine). Conclusion: A brief, reliable and informative measure was developed, most appropriate for research and clinical settings. It can be used to measure the temperament tendency towards present illness in order to reduce or eliminate that.