Psychometric Properties of Short Nimhans Triguna Scale: Self and Informant Report Versions
K. B. Nayana, Jyotsna Agrawal, Nitin Anand, Mariamma PhilipAbstract
Background:
Emerging research in Indian Psychology highlights its potential for holistic human development. Triguna, a foundational personality theory in Indian Psychology, encompassing three gunas of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, describes psycho-spiritual and behavioral aspects linked to well being. Given the need for short tools and overcoming social desirability, the current study revised a Self Report Triguna Scale and developed an Informant Report Triguna scaleand assessed the psychometric properties.
Method:
The study was conducted across two phases. Study one focused on item finalization and study two established the psychometric properties of the final tools, on 222 participants and 99 informants.Vedic Personality Inventory(VPI), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale(K-10) and Satisfaction with Life Questionnaire(SWLS) were used to establish the psychometric properties.
Results:
The internal consistency reliability of the self report version had alpha coefficients of 0.69, both for Sattva, and Rajas and 0.74 for Tamas, and for the informant version, it was 0.77, 0.72, and 0.75, for Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, respectively. Validity was supported through expert validation and significant positive correlations of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas subscale of Nimhans Triguna Scale with the respective subscale of the Vedic Personality Inventory. Sattva also correlated positively with life satisfaction and negatively with distress; while Rajas and Tamas showed opposite trends. No significant gender differences were present while age was negatively associated with Rajas and Tamas. Sattva was influenced by the lifestyle factors such as spirituality, volunteering, and self growth activities, consistent with Triguna theory.
Conclusion:
The newly developed short Nimhans Triguna Scales in Self and Informant Report Versions hold potential for application in diverse research contexts, clinical practice, and public mental health studies and interventions.