Validation of a Brief Internet-Based Self-Report Measure of Maladaptive Personality and Interpersonal Schema: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Existing digital mental health interventions mainly focus on the symptoms of specific mental disorders, like depression or anxiety. Interventions focusing on maladaptive personalities and interpersonal schemas, rather than symptoms, could be an alternative. Therefore, concise tools for measuring core personality traits and interpersonal patterns known to cause psychological discomfort among potential users of digital mental health interventions are required. Thus, the Maladaptive Personality and Interpersonal Schema (MPIS) was developed. OBJECTIVE This study validates and confirms the psychometric properties of the MPIS. METHODS Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to construct a factorial structure model for this study. RESULTS Exploratory factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure with a total variance of 57%. The internal consistency of each factor of MPIS was good (Cronbach α=0.77-0.88), and the correlations with existing measures were statistically significant. The MPIS is a validated 35-item tool for measuring five essential personality traits and interpersonal patterns in adults aged 18-39. CONCLUSIONS This study developed this tool that can be considered to be advantageous as it was developed for online use and, has the advantage of being easily accessible. Most importantly, based on the results of the MPIS, individualized digital interventions can be recommended that target maladaptive psychological patterns. CLINICALTRIAL This study was a preliminary study of the RCT study and was not enrolled in a WHO accredited trial registry. Also, the study was conducted with the IRB approval from the institution to which the researcher belongs in advance.