Values in action inventory of strengths: Development and validation of short form-72 in Urdu

Abstract

Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) has been established as a key measure for assessment of character strengths and virtues. However its use in multiple measure studies is problematic due to its length. The present study developed a short form of the VIA, VIA-72-Urdu, in Pakistani context and conducted its first validation. Items in short form were retained on the basis of high factor loadings to respective strengths and finalized after verification of cultural validity. The new measure VIA-72-Urdu yielded acceptable reliabilities for research purpose (r values ranging from .64 to .78). Strengths correlated positively with positive affect (median r = .22) and life satisfaction (median r = .20) and negatively with negative affect (median r = −.19). Four factors were derived after exploratory factor analysis and factor structure invariance with long form was determined through multi group confirmatory factor analysis. All virtue factors were positively related with extraversion, conscientiousness and openness to experience and negatively related with neuroticism. Agreeableness was only negatively related with virtue factor of cognitive strengths (median absolute r between virtues and big five traits = .37). The new measure, VIA-72-Urdu provides basis for validation of the same in other languages. The VIA-72 will facilitate future research and assessment on character strengths and virtues.