Psychometric Properties of the Chinese SUPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale: Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Across Gender and Age

Yingying Wang; Jiang Long; Yueheng Liu; Tieqiao Liu; Joël Billieux

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.529949

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese SUPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale: Factor Structure and Measurement Invariance Across Gender and Age

Front Psychiatry. 2020 Nov 19:11:529949. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.529949. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Yingying Wang^{1

2}, Jiang Long^{3

4}, Yueheng Liu^{1

2}, Tieqiao Liu^{1

2}, Joël Billieux⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Hunan Key Laboratory of Psychiatry and Mental Health, The China National Clinical Research Center on Mental Health Disorders (Xiangya), Chinese National Technology Institute on Mental Disorders, Mental Health Institute of Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
⁴ Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Science Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
⁵ Institute of Psychology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Abstract

Objective: Impulsivity is widely recognized as a risk factor for a variety of mental disorders and problematic behaviors. The Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (SUPPS-P) is an extensively used instrument to measure impulsivity in research and clinical settings. The current study primarily aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the SUPPS-P (C-SUPPS-P) among Chinese adolescents and emerging adults, and then to test its measurement invariance across gender and age. Methods: Data were collected from three vocational high schools and six colleges in Changsha, China. A total of 2,551 participants (20.1% male and 22.6% adolescents) completed the C-SUPPS-P and scales assessing addictive and problematic smartphone use, as well as emotional symptoms (anxiety, stress, depression). Four alternative models were examined and compared by using confirmatory factor analysis to determine the best factor structure of the C-SUPPS-P. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses were used to test measurement invariance across gender and age. Results: A theory-driven five-factor structure consistent with the original scale was identified. All of the subscales had good internal consistency. The correlations observed with the other scales supported the construct validity of the C-SUPPS-P. Full measurement invariance was established across gender and age, and significant gender and age differences according to impulsivity facets were identified. Conclusions: The C-SUPPS-P presents a consistent factor structure, as well as reliability and validity that are equivalent to those of the original scale. The full measurement invariance shown across gender and age allows for intergroup comparisons. Overall, the C-SUPPS-P is a promising instrument to measure various impulsivity traits in Chinese adolescents and emerging adults.

Keywords: UPPS; impulsivity; measurement invariance; problematic behaviors; psychometric properties; short form.