Evidence of validity of the 10-item Big Five Inventory (BFI-10) in Peruvian medical students
Introduction: The Big Five model is the most widely accepted theoretical framework for assessing personality traits, with applications in medical education, such as to predict academic performance, burnout, and student well-being. The BFI-10 is an ultra-short 10-item version designed for time-constrained contexts, although it lacks validation in Latin American medical students. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the evidence of validity of the BFI-10 in Peruvian medical students. Method: A cross-sectional psychometric validation study was conducted during the 2024 academic year. The sample consisted of first- to seventh-year medical students at the Private University of Tacna (Peru). The factor structure was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance by sex and academic phase, internal consistency, and criterion validity against academic performance (continuous GPA) and history of mental-health care. Results: A total of 248 medical students participated (54.4% women; mean age 22.9 years). The five-factor model showed adequate fit (CFI = 0.968; RMSEA = 0.064) with standardized loadings between 0.71 and 0.89. Measurement invariance held by academic phase and, with caution, by sex (configural RMSEA = 0.098). Internal consistency was acceptable (ω = 0.68–0.86), with Openness the lowest (ω = 0.68). No Big Five dimension correlated significantly with continuous GPA; however, Neuroticism was significantly higher among students with a history of mental-health care (p = 0.004, d = 0.55). Conclusion: The BFI-10 shows adequate evidence of structural validity and measurement invariance (with caution for sex) in Peruvian medical students. Criterion-validity evidence remains preliminary; the instrument is suitable for group-level research rather than individual, selection, or screening decisions.