Principal components analysis of the Schizotypal Personality Scale (STA) and the Borderline Personality Scale (STB)

The Schizotypal Personality scale (STA) is a popular measure of schizotypal personality. The Borderline Personality scale (STB) is a rarely used measu re of borderline personality. Together they comprise the Schizotypal Traits Questionnaire, as described by Claridge and Broks [Claridge, G., & Broks, P. (1984). Schizotypy and hemisphere function: I. Theoretical consideration s and the measurement of schizotypy. Personality and Individual Differences , 5, 633-648]. The present article reports Principal Components Analyses, f ollowed by Promax rotation, of the tetrachoric correlation matrix of the it ems of each of the two scales. The STA analysis suggested four factors labe lled Magical Thinking, Unusual Perceptual Experiences, Paranoid Suspiciousn ess and Isolation, and Social Anxiety. This factor structure is compared wi th previous factor analytic studies of the same scale. Factor analysis of t he STB has not been previously reported. Two factors were produced and form ed the basis for two correlated sub-scales labelled Hopelessness and Impuls iveness. Separate analyses for females and males provided substantial suppo rt for the full-sample analyses. Alpha-coefficients, sex differences and co rrelations with age are provided for the various scales and sub-scales. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.