Revisiting the dimensionality of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale in Mainland China

Abstract

I evaluated the dimensionality and psychometric properties of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) with 903 Chinese university student participants. I used internal consistency, convergent validity, divergent validity, factorial validity, and construct validity analysis to examine the psychometric properties of the 4-item shortened version of the BSSS and the 1- and 4-factor structure versions of the 8-item BSSS (BSSS-8). The results showed that only the single-factor BSSS-8 possessed acceptable psychometric properties and demonstrated good convergent and divergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the BSSS-8 with the 1-factor (vs. 4-factor) structure was more suitable when applied to university student participants in Mainland China. Future researchers could use the 1-factor BSSS-8 in the Chinese population to explore the positive impacts of sensation seeking on variables including entrepreneurship, financial investment, elite sportsmanship, and the creative industry.