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Validation of a short French version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

2011; Elsevier BV; Volume: 53; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.comppsych.2011.09.001

1532-8384

Joël Billieux, Lucien Rochat, Grazia Ceschi, Arnaud Carré, Isabelle Offerlin-Meyer, Anne-Catherine Defeldre, Yasser Khazaal, Chrystel Besche‐Richard, Martial Van der Linden,

Behavioral Health and Interventions

Impulsivity is a multifaceted construct that has a prominent role in psychiatry. Lynam et al (2006) have developed the UPPS-P, a 59-item scale measuring 5 impulsivity components: negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking. The aim of the present study was to validate a short, 20-item French version of the UPPS-P. Six hundred fifty participants filled out the short French UPPS-P. A subgroup of participants (n = 145) took part in a follow-up study and completed the scale twice to determine test-retest stability; another subgroup (n = 105) was screened with other questionnaires also to establish external validity. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a hierarchical model comprising 2 higher order factors of urgency (resulting from negative urgency and positive urgency) and lack of conscientiousness (resulting from lack of premeditation and lack of perseverance) as well as a separate factor of sensation seeking. The results indicated good internal consistency and test-retest stability. External validity was supported by relationships with psychopathological symptoms. The short French version of the UPPS-P therefore presents good psychometric properties and may be considered a promising instrument for both research and clinical practice.