Development and Initial Validation of the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI)

Abstract

Two studies summarize the development and initial validation of the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI). In Study 1, the 115-item prototype MPI was administered to 415 university students where exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 70-item, 7-factor model. In Study 2, the 70-item MPI and theoretically related companion instruments were administered to a multisite sample of 576 university students. Confirmatory factory analysis found the 7-factor structure to be a relatively good fit to the data (Comparative Fit Index =.954; root mean square error of approximation =.057), and MPI factors predicted variance in criterion variables above and beyond the variance accounted for by broad personality traits (i.e., Big Five). Study limitations and directions for further validation research are specified.

Multicultural Personality and Multicultural Counseling Competency in Counselor Trainees

“…Multicultural Personality Inventory–Short Form (MPI‐SF) . The MPI‐SF (Fietzer et al, ) is a 42‐item scale derived from the original 70‐item MPI measuring the hygiology model of multicultural personality (Ponterotto, ; Ponterotto et al, ). The MPI‐SF uses a 5‐point Likert scale with anchors at 1 ( disagree strongly ) and 5 ( agree strongly ).…”

“…There is robust psychometric evidence for the MPI and MPI‐SF. During initial validation, the MPI demonstrated (a) sufficient evidence of factor structure with exploratory and confirmatory analyses on independent samples; (b) no contamination with social desirability; and (c) evidence of convergent validity with measures of multicultural scales predicted to be related proximally, medially, and distally with the MPI (Ponterotto et al, ). Lastly, the MPI demonstrated predictive validity (Fietzer et al, ) with social justice behavior and incremental validity above broad measures of personality.…”

“…The third model of multicultural personality, and the one serving as the focus of the present study, is the hygiology model, which developed within the context of counseling and adjustment (Ponterotto, ; Ponterotto et al, ). Hygiology is characterized by a focus on healthy development among average or normal (vs. those with pathology) individuals adapting to changing societies.…”

“…Ponterotto et al () operationalized the hygiology model of multicultural personality with the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI), a 70‐item, seven‐factor model with strong initial evidence supporting its psychometric properties. The MPI has been demonstrated to predict cognitive flexibility, life satisfaction, self‐esteem, and inclusive attitudes toward cultural differences beyond that predicted by the Big Five personality model(Ponterotto et al, ).…”

“…Ponterotto et al () operationalized the hygiology model of multicultural personality with the Multicultural Personality Inventory (MPI), a 70‐item, seven‐factor model with strong initial evidence supporting its psychometric properties. The MPI has been demonstrated to predict cognitive flexibility, life satisfaction, self‐esteem, and inclusive attitudes toward cultural differences beyond that predicted by the Big Five personality model(Ponterotto et al, ). A separate study of the MPI found the subscales of Racial and Ethnic Identity Development, Social Justice and Activism, and Humor significantly predicted altruistic behavior in a modified dictator game beyond that predicted by gender, race, and the five‐factor model (Fietzer, Ponterotto, Jackson, & Bolgatz, ).…”