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Niche diversity effects on personality measurement - evidence from large national samples during the COVID-19 pandemic
[journal article]
Abstract We report systematic variability in the psychometric properties of a brief personality inventory during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing upon recent discussions about the universality vs cultural relativism of personality measures, we review and comparatively test theories predicti... view more
We report systematic variability in the psychometric properties of a brief personality inventory during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing upon recent discussions about the universality vs cultural relativism of personality measures, we review and comparatively test theories predicting systematic variability in personality measurement across cultures using an established brief personality measure applied to population samples in 16 nations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 35,052). We found systematic variation in factor
replicability and effective dimensionality. In line with previous theorizing, factors replicated better in contexts with greater niche diversity. Examining possible drivers underlying this association, the investigation of the individual components in the niche construction index suggested that life expectancy and to a lesser degree economic complexity are associated with greater personality structure differentiation. Population-level indicators of acute threat due to COVID-19 did not show credible effects. These patterns suggest that a) investigation of personality structure in population samples can provide useful insights into personality dynamics, b) socioecological factors have a systematic impact on survey responses, but c) we also need better theorizing and research about both personality and culture to understand how niche construction dynamics operate.... view less
Keywords
personality; diversity; relativism; cultural relativism; universalism; intercultural comparison; personality research; social factors; socioecological factors; life expectancy; population; epidemic; contagious disease
Classification
Personality Psychology
Free Keywords
Corona; COVID-19; Coronavirus; BFI-10; equivalence; factor replication; cross-cultural comparison; niche diversity; life expectancy; Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) (ZIS 76)
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 1-12
Journal
Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4 (2023)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100116
ISSN
2666-6227
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed