Comparison of the Giant Three and the Big Five in early adolescents

This study examines the robustness of the PEN model and the Big Five model in self-reported personality data of 419 early adolescents, aged 12-14 years. Adolescents filled out the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire for Youth-Revised (JEPQ-R) and a questionnaire designed to assess the Big Five factors. Factor analysis of the combined item set revealed that three factors best represented the data. Direct comparison of both models by exploratory analyses at the scale level seemed to be more in favour of the PEN model, and lent support for the assumption that Agreeableness and Conscientiousness are aspects of Psychoticism. Confirmatory factor analyses, however, did not favour one model over the other. The position of Openness/Intellect is discussed and suggestions for future personality research are described. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.