Development and validation of the short form of the Parker personality measure among Chinese college students

Objective Current diagnostic frameworks for pathological personality are shifting from categorical to dimensional models. While the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 represents the most extensively validated dimensional measure across Western and Eastern cultures, its length limits practical utility. This study developed the Parker Personality Measure Short Form (PERM-SF) to facilitate efficient screening of pathological personality traits. Methods Two samples of college students (Sample 1: N = 1,768; 937 women and 831 men, aged 20.59 years ± 1.95, ranging from 16 to 27 years; Sample 2: N = 1,614; 887 women and 727 men, aged 20.38 years ± 1.59, 17–27 years) were recruited consecutively from one university in China through online random sampling. Exploratory factor analysis in Sample 1 identified items with robust psychometric properties for inclusion in the PERM-SF. Confirmatory factor analysis in Sample 2 validated the factor structure. Subsequent analyses evaluated internal consistency, longitudinal measurement invariance, and construct validity. Results Thirty-eight of the 92 items of PERM were deleted due to low factor loadings or high cross loadings, resulting in a five-factor model consisting of 54 items (F1: Dissociality, F2: Self-doubt-Detachment, F3: Disinhibition-Negative affectivity, F4: Anankastia, F5: Borderline pattern). All factors demonstrated good internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = 0.834–0.932). Longitudinal measurement invariance held at strict level (ΔCFI ≤ 0.001, ΔRMSEA ≤ 0.001) and two-way random-effects ICCs ranged from 0.488 to 0.759. Validity analyses revealed significant weak-to-moderate correlations with the Symptom Checklist-90 and established discriminant validity for all factor pairs, as supported by the Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio test. Conclusion The PERM-SF exhibits adequate preliminary psychometric properties for rapid assessment of pathological personality dimensions, supporting its utility for research and screening applications at least among Chinese young adults.