Psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire — Revised (EPQ-R)

Abstract

Based on the P-E-N Model, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire — Revised (EPQ-R; S. Eysenck, H. Eysenck, & Barrett, 1985) is an internationally well-known personality assessment instrument. This questionnaire measures the three fundamental personality dimensions: Psychoticism, Extraversion, and Neuroticism (also includes a Lie/Social Desirability scale).

The aim of the present paper consists in the examination of the factorial structure of the EPQ-R in the Portuguese context and its psychometric properties (validity and reliability). Using a large sample (N = 1689, 16–60 years), the construct validity was examined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and the test reliability through internal consistency analysis and test-retest reliability (temporal stability between 4 and 8 weeks).

In general, the EPQ-R (Almiro & Simões, 2013, 2014) showed an adequate reliability and validity indices, replicating on the Portuguese context the factor structure of its original version (English). These results demonstrate that the EPQ-R conveniently measures the Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Psychoticism constructs, defined by H. Eysenck, and the adequacy of the EPQ-R to the Portuguese population as a personality assessment instrument.