Abstract

• The purpose of this study is to adapt a personality inventory which was suitable for Myanmar culture in Myanmar language, and to explore personality traits of people who were living in Yangon, Myanmar. This research approach was a quantitative in the study. A total sample size of 512 participants who were living in Yangon was used in this study. Their age ranged from 18 years and above 60. The 22 subscales out of 52 subscales from Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – 3 (MMPI-3) was used to assess the personality of participants in Yangon. There was total 181 items from 22 subscales. This test contained True/False response format. Factorial analysis of data, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, test-retest reliability, descriptive and percentage methods was used with SPSS. According to the result of Pearson (r) value is over 0.70, 20 subscales of YPI-23, except THD and ASB, are acceptable indicating that there is a strong relationship between 2 variables and there is a positive relationship, meaning as one variable increases, the other tends to increase as well. Items with lower than 0.7 values are less acceptable meaning that there is not strong relationship between 2 variables and there is a negative relationship, meaning as one variable increases, the other tends to decrease. Nevertheless, as the result of factor analysis, all 181 items from 22 subscales involved in YPI-23 except these four items (EID-173, THD-14, NFC-48, and AGGR-18) were acceptable to measure personality. Therefore, YPI-23 scale had high reliability and validity. It can be used as an instrument in the Myanmar cultural setting. Moreover, cultures have very different attitudes toward mental health, societal expectations, and emotional expression. The MMPI-3 adaptation should take into account local standards about psychological well-being. The YPI-23 is a multi-step process that requires collaboration among Union Civil Service Board, Central Institude of Civil Service of Myanmar, Officer Testing Team, and Mental Health Hospital.