The present study examined the measurement invariance of the Big Five Personality Trait
Short Questionnaire (BFPTSQ) across language (Spanish and English), Spanish-speaking
country of origin (Argentina and Spain) and gender groups (female and male). Evidence of
criterion-related validity was examined via associations (i.e., correlations) between the
BFPTSQ domains and a wide variety of mental health outcomes. College students (n =
2158) from the USA (n = 1117 [63.21% female]), Argentina (n = 353 [65.72% female]) and
Spain (n = 688 [66.86% female]) completed an online survey. Of the tested models, an
Exploratory Structural Equation Model (ESEM) fit the data best. Multigroup ESEM and
ESEM-within-CFA generally supported the measurement invariance of the questionnaire
across groups. Internalizing symptomatology, rumination and low happiness were related
mainly to low emotional stability across countries, while low agreeableness and low conscientiousness were related chiefly to externalizing symptomology (i.e., antisocial behavior
and drug outcomes). Some correlational differences arose across countries and are discussed. Our findings generally support the BFPTSQ as an adequate measure to assess the
Big Five personality domains in Spanish- and English-speaking young adults
