Validation of the Brief Persian Version of the Affective Temperament Auto-Questionnaire TEMPS-A

Abstract

Objectives Affective temperaments are subclinical trait manifestations related to mood disorders. The temperament evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) has been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide and has been shortened in a few of these translations. The primary objective of the study is to validate a brief Persian version of the TEMPS-A. Methods The sample consisted of 694 University students educated in 10 different faculties of Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran. After translation and back-translation process, participants were asked to complete the Persian translation of the original 110-item TEMPS-A. The exploratory factor was analyzed using the principal component analysis method. A five-factor solution was applied based on other studies and theoretical assumptions. Results The five factors such as irritability, anxiety, dysthymic, cyclothymic, and hyperthymic temperaments with a total of 35 items showed acceptable Cronbach's alpha 0.63, 0.63, 0.66, 0.6, and 0.6, respectively. Anxious-dysthymic and anxious-irritability pairs showed the highest Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.4. Female subjects scored significantly more on the dysthymic, anxiety, and irritability temperaments and less on the cyclothymic temperament. The subscales of the short Persian version showed satisfactory Pearson's correlation coefficients between 0.48 and 0.78 with similar subscales from the Persian translation of 110-item TEMPS-A. Conclusion The 35-item Persian version of the TEMPS-A demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and sufficient correlation with the original version, and hence, can be conveniently used for the temperament studies of individuals using Persian language.