Standardization and Validation of Big Five Inventory-Korean Version(BFI-K) in Elders

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The Big Five Inventory(BFI) and the Big Five Inventory-10(BFI-10) are widely used instruments for the evaluation of personality in various cultures, while they have not been formally validated in Korea. This study aimed to develop the Korean versions of BFI(BFI-K) and BFI 10(BFI-K-10) with a Korean elderly population. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 1,038 community dwelling elders. BFI-K and BFI-K-10 were administered. For the reliability analyses, scores on Guttmans' split half and Cronbach's alpha were estimated. For the validity analyses, the Korean version of Geriatric Depression Scale(KGDS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI) were investigated. RESULTS: The reliability of the BFI-K was good(Guttmans' split half=0.59-0.78, Cronbach's alpha=0.52-0.75). Scores on the BFI-K-10 were significantly correlated with the scores on BFI-K. Scores on the BFI-K and the BFI-K-10 were significantly correlated with the scores on KGDS and STAI. CONCLUSION: Both BFI-K and BFI-K-10 might be reliable and valid instruments to evaluate the personality in Korean community elders. BFI-K-10 is short and easy to be administered, and therefore it would be very convenient to use.