Turkish version of the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality questionnaire: adaptation study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to adapt the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ) to the Turkish language and measure its factor structure and psychometric properties. Method: In total, 418 volunteers (301 women) participated in the study. Participants were undergraduate students at Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey, and were aged between 18 and 26 years (M=21.53). They completed the Turkish version of the RST-PQ, Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scales, Big Five Personality Characteristics Scale (BFPCS), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated Form (EPQR-A), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale. Results: Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a six-factor structure aligned with the original questionnaire: Flight Freeze System (FFS), BIS, and four factors that are related to BAS, which are reward interest, goal-drive persistence, reward reactivity, and impulsivity. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients of six factors were found to be 0.79, 0.93, 0.78, 0.87, 0.79, and 0.69, respectively. The convergent and divergent validity of the scale was supported by correlations with the existing personality/trait scales. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the Turkish version of RST-PQ has favorable reliability and validity in the Turkish student sample. The strengths and limitations of the questionnaire were further discussed in the study.