Evaluation of psychometric characteristics of light triad personality questionnaire in nurses.

INTRODUCTION: Personality is one of the important etiological factors of psychological factors. In this regard, one of the important factors in the success of people's social and psychological life is the light triad personality. They are a combination of sympathy, compassion, and humanity. On the basis of results of the research, it is not possible to trust the psychometrics characteristics of tools; it is necessary to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of these tools. Meanwhile, the aim of the present study is the evaluation of psychometrics characteristics of light triad personality in nurses.
METHODS: The statistical population includes all nurses who were employed in the summer and autumn of 2020 in private centers and hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. The sample of this study was 245 nurses who were selected by convenience sampling. To analyze the data, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, total question-score correlation, and reliability analysis were used by using SPSSV22 and LISRELV8.80 software.
RESULTS: The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the three-factor structure of the light triad personality questionnaire. The findings of the convergent validity of the light triad personality questionnaire were evaluated and confirmed via its simultaneous implementation by the Social Health and Emotional Sympathy Questionnaires and its divergent reliability was confirmed by the Machiavellian Questionnaire. The reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was obtained for the factors of sympathy, compassion, philanthropy, and totality by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, 0.83, 0.75, 0.70, and 0.92, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Finally, with regard to the desired validity and reliability coefficients, ease of implementation, scoring, interpretation, and explanation, as well as a short time to answer, it can be said that light triad personality questionnaires were qualified for use in psychological research to measure the rate of light triad personality.

INTRODUCTION

Personality is one of the main factors causing psychological problems in individuals (Ghomrani et al., 2015). The word personality is rooted in the word persona. This word means a mask or veil that theater's actors put on their faces in traditional Greece. Therefore, the main concept of personality can be considered as an external and social image that people have on their face based on the role play based on society accordingly. Society gives the individual a role to play accordingly. One of the theories that explore individual and personality differences is Eysenck's theory. Eysenck has given special attention to biological factors in the classification of personality traits and states that two‐thirds of the attributes are explained by biological factors. Of course, he does not conceal environmental factors in the formation of these traits (Eysenck & Chan, 1982). This theory summarizes the complexities of personality in the three categories of extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism (Eysenck & Eysenk, 1967). Goldberg (1999) attributes personality traits including five strong factors: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness.

Extroverts are social and have more friends and are more involved in social activities (Sedaqat et al., 2012). and they are less sensitive to pain and punishment and need to stimulate high‐level arousal (Adan et al., 2010). People having more personality styles respond to emotional responses more than others, and these people tolerate high anxiety and stress (Sedaqat et al., 2012). Also, people having psychosis are aggressive, cool, lack empathy, and self‐centered (Adan et al., 2010).

In recent years, special attention has been given to clinical forms of social behaviors among psychologists (Veselka et al., 2014). One of the relatively new concepts in this field is the light triad personality (Jonason & Webster, 2010). This personality states a personality that has sympathy, compassion, and humanity, and poses these attributes in a way in contrast to the dark triad personality. Also the light triad personality tends to increase the proper social relationship and reduce interpersonal problems. Sympathy is defined as the cognitive ability to understand the emotions of other people (Chudy, 2021). The concept of compassion involves being in contact with others' suffering, awareness of others’ pain and not avoiding it, and compassion is usually expressed as kindness related to others; but in Buddhist psychology, it is believed that the feeling of compassion toward oneself is more essential than compassion to others (Neff & Germer, 2013). Humanity is a high social value and a social moral duty and when it weakens, it can lead to relational disorder in society. Some studies suggest that the light triad personality are related to psychological characteristics, as studies (Gracia‐ Gracia et al., 2017; Hashemi, 2018; Khedmati, 2020; Kord & BabaKhani, 2016) indicated that there is a relationship between compassion and altruism (known as humanity) and satisfaction of life that are referred to as humanitarian (Hashemi, 2018; Neff, 2003; Zarei & Fooladvan, 2019). The results of the studies also indicated that there is a relationship between sympathy and interpersonal issues and social relations (Duarte et al., 2016; Preston& Hofelich, 2012; Reniers et al., 2011) and satisfaction of life (Amirpoor et al., 2015; Kharidaratiq & Zeinali, 2018) in people. Also, according to Kaufman et al (2019), the most important features identified for the light triad personality different studies are included: intelligence curiosity; trust in others; patience against others’ views; lack of ability to overcome others; having a sense of compassion and philanthropy; having good nature and adaptation; and finally having a high degree of life satisfaction. On the other hand, the light triad personality is associated with the “reaction structure” of the human being and it causes one to display appropriate responses in different circumstances (Salzberg, 2017).

The history of construction and standardization of credible global questionnaires indicated that the process of making and completing these instruments has lasted more than a decade.

In addition, based on the results of the research, it is not possible to trust the psychometric characteristics of tools, and we need to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of these tools. Meanwhile, the purpose of the present study is the evaluation of psychometrics characteristics of light triad personality in nurses.

METHODOLOGY

The method of this study is descriptive in the type of psychometric studies. In the present study, the statistical population includes all the nurses in the summer and fall of 2020 in private centers and hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences that are 500 people. The statistical sample of the research was estimated at 220 people based on the Morgan table. Due to the possibility of samples loss, 250 people were selected as the sample using the available sampling method, of which 245 people completed the questionnaire. With regard to the specific working conditions of nurses in days of pandemic coronavirus, and the difficulty in their availability, the convenience sampling was done and the questionnaires were distributed online. Entrance criteria are as follows: having a nursing bachelor's degree, work history of at least 1 year, being a practitioner during the study, and willingness and satisfaction to participate in the study. Other criteria are also included the incomplete completion of the questionnaires and dissatisfaction with the continuation of cooperation in the research process.

Tools

Questionnaire of light triad personality: This questionnaire was designed, with 24 constructs and three subconstructs (1–8), compassion (9–16), and humanity (17–24). The way of scoring in this questionnaire is a five‐point Likert scale (totally disagree = 1 to totally agree = 5). Constructs are scored in reverse as 1‐4‐7‐8‐12‐15‐18‐20‐21‐22. A higher score indicates the higher attribute of that attribute in the individual. Johnson (2018) reported the validity of the questionnaire by using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the sympathy factor 0.67, compassion factor 0.88, humanity factor 0.79, and its reliability is 0.88. For validation by using the factor analysis method, the range of factors for the sympathy is 0.24 to 0.50, the compassion factor is 0.36 to 0.60, and the human factor is 0.30 to 0.70 (Johnson, 2018). This scale has not been used in Iran. First, it was translated into English by three people. The translations were reviewed and the best translation was selected. After translating in the Persian language, it was handed over to the translator in both Persian and English, and the questionnaire was returned in the English language. After assuring the validity of the translation, its content validity was verified by the professors. The internal consistency method was used to calculate the reliability of the questionnaire. Its reliability was initially studied in 70 people in the sample by using Cronbach's alpha, and after confirmation, it was used in this study. The reliability of this questionnaire was investigated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient in the present study.

Social health questionnaire (KSWBQ): This questionnaire was designed and had 33 constructs and 5 components (cohesion, acceptance, self‐actualization, participation, and social compliance). The way of ranking is a five‐degree Likert scale (totally disagree = 1 to totally agree = 5). standardized the questionnaire and it was calculated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient by using factor analysis and the reliability of the questionnaire was 0.78. Ahari (2013) also calculated the reliability of the questionnaire by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.80. In the present study, the reliability of this questionnaire was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.78.

Emotional empathy scale: This instrument was designed and has 33 constructs. The way of answering this questionnaire is based on a nine‐order Likert scale. The reliability of the questionnaire was calculated in the study as 0.91. Also, to evaluate the validity of the structure of this scale, exploratory factor analysis was used as the main component analysis method, which was able to explain 67% of the total variance. Its convergent and discriminant validity was calculated by the simultaneous implementation of the mental health inventory and the list of positive and negative effects. The results of Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that subjects’ scores have a positive correlation on the scale of emotional sympathy and psychological well‐being and positive effects, and it has negative psychological helplessness and negative effects. These results confirm the convergent and discriminant validity of the emotional sympathy scale. The reliability of this questionnaire was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.88.

Machiavellianism scale: This questionnaire has 20 components compiled by Christie and Geis (1970) for adults of 18–65 years. It is the most reliable and widely used tool to measure Machiavellianism personality traits (O'Connor & Athota, 2013). Machiavelli's personality questionnaire has four components and a total score. The components of this questionnaire include negative interpersonal tactics, positive interpersonal tactics, a pessimistic view about human nature, and an optimistic view about human nature (Corral & Calvete, 2000). This scale responds to a seven‐degree continuum by a Likert‐scale (from strongly disagree [score 1] to totally agree [score 7]). In Iran, to evaluate the reliability of the Machiavellianism personality questionnaire, Afkham Ibrahimi et al. (2008) performed the scale on population and the average of its reliability was achieved by two halves 0.79. To assess the validity, Christie et al. (1970) investigated convergent and discriminant validity by multiple personality scales and evidence indicating distinctive feature and structural differences of scale by other scales that demonstrate the validity of the scale. Michael et al. (2017) measured the reliability coefficient of the questionnaire by Cronbach's alpha that the value was obtained 0.68 in the criminal population and it was 0.71 in the innocent population. In the present study, the reliability of this questionnaire was calculated by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.85.

RESULTS

In the present study, to determine the validity of the light triad personality questionnaire, it was used factor analysis method, convergent validity, and diverging validity. The analysis of data factors has been obtained by using the main components method and after four experimental cycles in the best factor structure. The analysis of data factors leads to the extraction of three factors by the orthogonal rotation method of the Varimax type. By performing several initial tests, the suitability and eligibility of the data for factor analysis was confirmed. The result of the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test (KMO = 0.890) was satisfactory and the Kervit Bartlett test was meaningful at p < 0.0005. The factor loadings of the light triad personality questionnaire were presented by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Factor loadings of the light triad personality questionnaire by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis

Confirmatory factor analysis	Exploratory factor analysis	No. of question	Factor
0/80	0/64	1	Sympathy
0/68	0/53	2
0/55	0/48	3
0/66	0/55	4
0/65	0/60	5
0/71	0/69	6
0/54	0/41	7
0/56	0/44	8
0/40	0/57	9	Compassion
0/39	0/49	10
0/45	0/60	11
0/54	0/70	12
0/44	0/38	13
0/47	0/39	14
0/47	0/44	15
0/54	0/49	16
0/64	0/56	17	Humanity
0/55	0/40	18
0/81	0/61	19
0/43	0/33	20
0/72	0/75	21
0/59	0/64	22
0/46	0/39	23
0/47	0/44	24
0/57	0/51	–	Average of factor loadings

The difference between the estimated factor loadings is mean 0.06, which is obtained by the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, 0.57 – 0.51 = 0.06. In other words, exploratory factor analysis was estimated on average the factor loadings of questions less than 0.06 factor analyses. It indicates the greater ability of the factor analysis compared with factor analysis. As can be seen in the study, in both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, the factor loads of all questions are greater than 0.30, which has reached statistical and practical significance. Table 2 presented the fit indices of the factor analysis model.

TABLE 2

Model fit indices

Value of fit indices	Fit indices
0/001 ≥ p	K2
0/68	Normalized fit index (NFI)
0/75	Comparative fit index (CFI)
0/081	Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)

The results indicated that K2 statistics are meaningful at the p ≥ 0/001 level, which expresses the weak fitting of the model by data. However, since K2 is very sensitive to the sample group volume, the precise index is not fitted to determine the fit and the same uncertainties have led to other indices for fitness assessment that are discussed in the following. Normalized fit index (NFI) and comparative fitting index (CFI) can be between zero and 1. The values of 0.95 and higher are acceptable. The values of the NFI and CFI are 0.68 and 0.75, respectively. Based on the criterion of 0.95 and higher, these values confirm the model. Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) indicated the average residual variance between the observed sample and the expected model of the population. The values less than 0.08 indicated that good fitting, 0.08–0.10 is medium fitting, and higher than 0.10 is considered weak fitting. The value of RMSEA in this study is 0.081, which indicates the average fit of the model. In sum, based on factor loadings, all the questions are larger than 0.30, and based on RMSEA, it can accept fitting of model, relatively, which indicates more studies on the psychometrics characteristic by larger sample sizes and if necessary to modify the questionnaire.

To determine the convergent validity of the questionnaire, it was used to perform along with the social health questionnaire and emotional sympathy, and to determine its divergent validity, the Machiavellian questionnaire was used. The results are presented in Table 3.

TABLE 3

Determining the convergent and diverging validity of the light triad personality questionnaire

Light triad personality questionnaire	Emotional sympathy	Machiavellian questionnaire	Social health questionnaire	–
			1	Social health questionnaire
		1	–0/65	Machiavellian questionnaire
	1	–0/55	0/78	Emotional sympathy
1	0/85	–0/69	0/78	Light triad personality questionnaire

*All correlation is meaningful at p ≥ 0.001 level.

As we can see, there is a correlation between the light triad personality questionnaire and the social health questionnaire (0.78), and with an emotional sympathy questionnaire (0.85), which indicates that light triad personality has convergent validity. In addition, there is a −0.69 correlation between the light triad personality questionnaire and the Machiavellian questionnaire, which indicates that the light triad personality questionnaire has divergent validity. Therefore, the calculated correlation coefficients indicated that the light triad personality questionnaire has convergent validity and accurate divergence.

To evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire, the internal consistency method is used. The internal consistency results are obtained by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient as presented in Table 4.

TABLE 4

The results of internal consistency by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient

Cronbach's alpha coefficient	Factor
0/83	Sympathy
0/75	Compassion
0/70	Humanity
0/92	Total

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Personality can be defined as certain patterns of thinking, excitement, and behavior that determine a personal style in engaging with the environment. The existence of certain personality traits plays a significant role in the lifestyle of individuals in a way that personality abnormalities have a broad relationship with interpersonal problems and that there are problems in the relationship between those who experience abnormality. Also, the characteristics of community‐friendly and mental–social health of personality are associated with an increase in psychological and social harmony (Johnson, 2018). Johnson (2018) poses three attributes of sympathy, compassion, and humanity as the light triad personality. These three attributes have common characteristics of true and intelligent communication by others, social harmony, and adaptation, which increase emotional recognition in people, and thus people react to conditions in a variety of circumstances.

The study of light triad personality is important for three reasons: First, psychological well‐being is not determined by a lack of psychological harm but also based on what is good. Second, there is the relationship between personality health and the form of mental health by category of benefits to individuals and society. Third, the prevalence of mental health is relatively low in the optimal personality domain.

Therefore, due to the importance of personality traits, especially focusing on positive and clear personality traits, in the present study, 250 nurses were selected by available sampling method. All of these people completed the research tools. To analyze the data, we used exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis methods, questionnaire correlation‐total score, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and Pearson correlation. To determine the number of factors of light triad personality, exploratory factor analysis was carried out. Before the implementation of the factor analysis, the hypotheses were investigated. To extract the factors, the analysis of the main components was used. The findings indicated that the light triad personality questionnaire is a three‐factor structure. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the fitting model of three factors. To review the reliability of the questionnaire, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used. Findings showed that this scale has acceptable validity and can be used to measure light triad personality. In addition, to compute the reliability of the questionnaire, the light triad personality was used simultaneously by the social health scale, emotional sympathy, and Machiavellianism scale that were based on research; these sizes had a meaningful relationship with the light triad personality. The factor loadings of the light triad personality questionnaire have value of 0.33 or higher by using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Also, the reliability coefficient of the light triad personality questionnaire was obtained for factors of sympathy, compassion, philanthropy, and total by using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, with values of 0.83, 0.75, 0.70, and 0.92, respectively. The analysis results indicated the average fitting of the model and data. In general, about ease of implementation, ease of ranking, ease of interpretation and explanation, performable group and individual, feasibility and reliability, and validity, it can be concluded that the light triad personality questionnaire of nurses’ community has acceptable psychometrics features and can be used in psychological research.

This study has limitations that have been introduced. First, the scores of this tool are not known to some extent related to the actual behaviors in everyday life. The second limitation is related to the place and time domain of study. The study includes the nurses working in the summer and autumn 2020 in private centers and hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, therefore it should be cautious to generalize. Based on these limitations, it is suggested that scores of the light triad personality are correlated with real behavior sizes in daily life to provide evidence about diagnosis scores of this tool in real‐life situations. It means that it is not clear whether high scores in the questionnaire can predict based on sympathy, compassion, and practical humanity. Researchers are suggested that in the future, they design studies that identify the exact cut‐off scores of this tool to identify groups with clear personality traits, and the practical applications of the scores of this tool in predicting real behaviors in the individual's living environment. Furthermore, examining the reliability of scores from the tool as an instrument for detecting the sensitivity of therapeutic intervention can be another subject of proper research on this instrument. It is also suggested that the relationship of light triad personality was reviewed by different mental variables of mental health, improve health, resilience, lifestyle, etc., to provide coherent knowledge of the light triad personality and the relationships of these constructs with others.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

PEER REVIEW

The peer review history for this article is available at https://publons.com/publon/10.1002/brb3.2514

FUNDING INFORMATION

None.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Azam Farah Bijari, Leila Hefazi Torghabeh, and Gholamreza Dehshiri designed the study and prepared the manuscript. Leila Hefazi Torghabeh and Azam Farah Bijari collected the data. Azam Farah Bijari analyzed the data. All authors contributed to the revision of the manuscript and they read and approved the final version.