ADAPTATION OF THE UKRAINIAN VERSION OF THE SELF-DECEPTION QUESTIONNAIRE (SDQ). RESULTS OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE SDQ
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/cusu-psy-2025-4-5Keywords:
self-deception, SDQ, adaptation, psychometric properties, validity, reliability, factor analysisAbstract
The problem of self-deception is a key issue in the study of psychological mechanisms through which an individual distorts information about themselves. The Self-Deception Questionnaire (SDQ), developed by H. A. Sackeim and R. C. Gur in 1978–1979, is used to identify unconscious tendencies to distort information in order to maintain a positive self-image. The SDQ consists of 20 statements covering sensitive aspects of experience. The internal structure of the SDQ includes five subscales: “Sexuality, sexual conflicts”, “Repression of aggression, anxiety, guilt”, “Body, stigma, impulsive/destructive thoughts”, “Self-esteem, self-image, need for approval”, and “Relationships with parents, hidden aggression”. These correspond to major areas of unconscious distortion of self-information. The purpose of this study is the linguistic adaptation of the SDQ into Ukrainian and the verification of its psychometric properties on a Ukrainian sample. The adaptation included translation, back-translation, expert assessment of validity, and pilot testing on 30 volunteers. The main study was conducted on 270 students (ages 19–46). Item discrimination was assessed (r = 0.28–0.55), internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.62–0.82), test-retest reliability (r = 0.70 –0.82, n = 234), and factor structure (5 factors explaining 68 % of variance). Each item corresponded theoretically to its assigned scale. Convergent validity was confirmed by correlations with theoretically related constructs (social desirability, self-esteem, anxiety, depression). All hypotheses (100 %) were confirmed, significantly exceeding the 75 % criterion. The results showed that the Ukrainian version of the SDQ is a reliable and valid tool for research and practice. The adapted SDQ (Ukrainian version of the Self-Deception Questionnaire, SDQ) can be successfully applied in the Ukrainian context for research purposes to study personality mechanisms of self-defense, levels of self-criticism, and self-knowledge. It is also practical in psychological diagnostics for detecting unconscious distortions of self-image and assessing the dynamics of personality changes.
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