Psychometric properties of the affect integration inventory – short form in a sample of patients with personality disorder

INTRODUCTION: Affect integration comprises the capacity to access and utilize the motivational and signal properties of affects. This capacity is essential for personal adjustment, mental health, and well-being. Affect integration is commonly operationalized through the Affect Integration Inventory. This study examines the psychometric properties of a short-form (AII-SF-42) of the instrument in a sample of patients with personality disorders (n = 87). METHODS: Analyses of internal-consistency reliability, along with standardized mean differences-, and associations between short- and long-forms are reported. Internal structure was assessed by confirmatory factor analyses and external criterion validity was addressed by tests of associations between the AII-SF-42-scale scores and measures of alexithymia, symptom distress, interpersonal problems and level of personality dysfunction. RESULTS: The study demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity for scores derived from the AII-SF-42, including acceptable internal consistency and strong correspondence with long-form scores, a consistent factor structure organized according to discrete affects, and systematic patterns of convergent and discriminant associations with external measures. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results of the study demonstrate that in clinical settings, including patients with personality disorders the AII-SF-42 is a valid and useful alternative to the full-length version of the instrument.