A factor analytic study of the Hypomanic Personality Scale in British, Spanish and Australian samples

Abstract

Detailed norms are provided for the Hypomanic Personality Scale [HoP; Eckblad, M., & Chapman, L. J. (1986). Development and validation of a scale for hypomanic personality. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95, 214–222] using a large British sample (N=1073). The factor structure of the HoP is examined using Maximum-Likelihood factor analysis and Promax rotation. Four moderately correlated factors are described, with the factors representing respectively an affective ‘moodiness’ component, a ‘cognitive’ component associated with creativity and persuasiveness, hypersociability/high activity, and perceived ‘ordinariness’ (negatively valenced). The steps in the development of a Spanish version of the HoP are described, and undergraduate norms are provided for a Spanish sample and a small Australian sample. The factor structure obtained in the British, Spanish and Australian samples are compared. It is concluded that the factor structures show both substantial agreement and some important differences. Reasons for these differences are discussed.