Objectives. Type D personality is the joint tendency toward negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI). The purpose of the current study is to examine the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of Type D personality scale (DS14). Sample and setting. The study included 390 university students from Slovakia. They all filled out the Slovak versions of DS14 and of Fivefactor model inventory NEO-FFI. Hypothesis. It was assumed that validity and reliability of the DS14 is comparable to other European countries and the position of Type D in the Five-factor model is in the Neuroticism and the Extraversion (reversed) dimensions. Statistical analysis. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation, scree plot, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach`s α, mean interitem correlation, Student`s t test for independent samples, Pearson`s correlations and stepwise regression analysis were used. Results. The two-factor structure and the validity of the DS14 were confirmed. The DS14 subscales were internally consistent (Cronbach`s α=0,89/0,86; mean inter-item correlation =0,53/0,47). The prevalence of Type D personality was 33,1%. Type D can be best described in the Neuroticism and the Extraversion (reversed) dimensions. Conclusion. Preliminary evidence suggests that the Slovak DS14 is a valid and reliable measure. Future studies are warranted to test the utility of the scale in various patient samples. Study limitations. The psychometric properties of DS14 were examined in the student population and results are not generalizable to patients with somatic or mental diseases. Test-retest reliability was not examined, so the data for the temporal stability is missing.

Department of Psychology University of Zurich

Katedra psychológie Filozofická fakulta Katolícka univerzita Rožumberok

Type D personality in the population of Slovak university students: psychometric qualities of DS14 questionnaire

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