Measuring Impulsivity in Greek Adults: Psychometric Properties of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Impulsive Behavior Scale (Short Version of UPPS-P)

Marianna Tsatali; Despina Moraitou; Georgia Papantoniou; Evangelia Foutsitzi; Eleni Bonti; Georgios Kougioumtzis; Georgios Ntritsos; Maria Sofologi; Magda Tsolaki

doi:10.3390/brainsci11081007

Measuring Impulsivity in Greek Adults: Psychometric Properties of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and Impulsive Behavior Scale (Short Version of UPPS-P)

Brain Sci. 2021 Jul 29;11(8):1007. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11081007.

Authors

Marianna Tsatali^{1

2}, Despina Moraitou^{1

2

3}, Georgia Papantoniou^{1

2

4

5}, Evangelia Foutsitzi^{4

5}, Eleni Bonti^{6

7

8}, Georgios Kougioumtzis⁹, Georgios Ntritsos^{10

11}, Maria Sofologi^{4

12}, Magda Tsolaki^{1

2

13}

Affiliations

¹ Greek Association of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (GAADRD), 54643 Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTh) Balkan Center, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Buildings A & B, GreeceLab of Psychology, Section of Experimental & Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
³ Laboratory of Psychology, Section of Experimental & Cognitive Psychology, School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory of Psychology, Department of Early Childhood Education, School of Education, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
⁵ Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁷ Department of Education, School of Education, University of Nicosia, 1700 Nicosia, Cyprus.
⁸ Department of Special Education (CEDU), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates.
⁹ Department of Turkish and Modern Asian Studies, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.
¹⁰ Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
¹¹ Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, School of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
¹² Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences, University Research Centre of Ioannina (U.R.C.I.), 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
¹³ 1st Department of Neurology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to validate the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11th version) scale as well as the short version of the Impulsive Behavior Scale (UPPS-P) in a population of Greek young adults. Secondly, we aimed at validating the BIS-11 in older adults.

Methods: 167 (Group 1) university students completed the Greek version of the BIS-11 (BIS-11-G) and the UPPS (UPPS-P-G) scales. Additionally, BIS-11-G was also administered to 167 (Group 2) cognitively intact older adults, to identify whether it could be used to measure impulsivity in an older adult population.

Results: Both scales had satisfactory internal reliability and test-retest reliability, as well as convergent validity in the young adult population. In regard to the factor structure, a principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two factors for the BIS-11-G in the young adult population and three factors in older adults, as well as three factors for the short UPPS-P-G in young adults.

Conclusions: The BIS-11-G and the UPPS-P-G scales can be used to measure different aspects of impulsivity in the Greek population of different ages in research and clinical practice.

Keywords: Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11); Impulsive Behavior Scale (short UPPS-P); adaptation study; impulsivity; validation study.