Factor Analysis of French Translation of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11)

Abstract

The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) is a 30 items self-report instrument designed to assess the personality/behavioral construct of impulsiveness. It is one of the most commonly used scale for the assessment of this construct in both research and clinical settings. Although its use is widely spread, there have been numerous question about the invariance of the factor structure across different populations. This study explored the factor structure of the french translation of the BIS-11 in a sample of 546 university students in a French Canadian university. The BIS-11 is held to measure 3 theoretical subtraits (attentional, motor and non-planning impulsiveness). We evaluated the factor structure of the BIS-11 using unweighted least square factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. We found no evidence supporting the 3 factor model. In fact, the present study found that the factor structure of the BIS-11 produces a 24 items 5 factor solution consisting of motor impulsiveness (5 items), cognitive complexity impulsiveness (3 items), nonplanning impulsiveness(6 items), financial management impulsiveness(3 items) and attentional impulsiveness(5 items). The utility of the BIS-11 as it is to assess impulsiveness in non-clinical population is questionable. The authors suggest future studies to investigate comparisons with this modified version of the BIS and other impulsivity or personality scales in non-clinical populations to evaluate criterion validity of this new model.