Cross-Cultural Validity of the Five-Factor Personality Inventory for ICD-11 Across Nine Countries and Validation of a French Translation

This study aimed to assess measurement invariance for the Five-Factor Inventory for ICD-11 (Oltmanns & Widiger, 2020) across nine national samples from four continents (n = 6, 342), and to validate a French translation in seven French-speaking national samples. All were convenience samples of adults. Exploratory factor analyses supported a four-factor structure in the French-speaking Western samples (Belgium, Canada, France, and Switzerland) while a three-factor structure was preferred in the French-speaking African samples (Burkina Faso and Togo), and no adequate structure was found in the Indian sample. Factor congruence with the original American sample was excellent for the Western samples but not for the non-Western samples. Exploratory bifactor analyses led to similar results, with the g-factor essentially reflecting one of the first-order factors observed in the exploratory factor analyses. Support for configural, metric, scalar (partial), and strict invariance was obtained across the six Western samples, as well as across the two African samples. Support for criterion validity of the Five-Factor Inventory for ICD-11 scales was also obtained, with relevant associations between scale scores and the presence of a mental health diagnosis and consulting a mental health professional, but validity was lower in the non-Western samples.