Translation of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) in Ibibio language

Abstract

This study focused on the translation and cross-validation of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) into the Ibibio language to enhance its cultural relevance for psychological assessments in Nigeria. A rigorous forward–backward translation process was employed, involving nine experts including bilingual translators and psychologists, to ensure linguistic and conceptual equivalence. The validation phase used a cross-sectional survey design in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with 399 participants purposively sampled for being bilingual in English and Ibibio, residing in Uyo Metropolis, and mentally stable. Participants included students (34.6%), civil servants (32.1%), and the general population (33.3%), with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years (M = 37). Instruments administered were the Ibibio-translated EPQ-R, the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Psychometric evaluation revealed robust indices of reliability and validity. Cronbach’s alpha values for the major scales were Extraversion (α = 0.86), Neuroticism (α = 0.88), and Psychoticism (α = 0.65), while the Lie scale yielded 0.64. Content validity was confirmed by clinical psychology experts using a 5-point Likert scale. Convergent validity was established through correlations with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, while divergent validity was supported by its relationship with the LOT-R. Factor analysis further confirmed the retention of the original EPQ-R factor structure. The study concludes that the Ibibio-translated EPQ-R is a reliable and culturally sensitive instrument suitable for personality assessment among Ibibio speakers, with applications in clinical diagnosis, research, and education.