THE FACTORIAL STRUCTURE OF MORNINGNESSEVENINGNESS PERSONALITY IN THE ARAB CONTEXT: A PSYCHOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: Morningness–eveningness preferences are critical indicators of individuals’ biological and psychological functioning. However, there is a significant lack of culturally adapted psychometric tools suitable for Arab populations.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties, factorial structure, validity, and reliability of the Morningness–Eveningness Scale within an Arab context to assess its suitability for psychological and research applications.

Methods: A total of 691 undergraduate students were randomly selected using stratified sampling to ensure demographic representation. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed to examine the scale’s structure. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest correlations, while validity was evaluated through criterion-related and discriminant analyses.

Results: EFA confirmed data adequacy (KMO = 0.748; Bartlett’s Test p < 0.001), revealing three main dimensions: temporal preferences, daytime alertness, and adaptation to imposed schedules. CFA supported this structure with acceptable fit indices (RMSEA = 0.0497; SRMR = 0.0520), though CFI (0.818) and TLI (0.788) were slightly below optimal thresholds. The scale showed strong reliability (α = 0.85; test-retest r = 0.75–0.89) and significant positive correlation with the original MEQ (r = 0.67, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The Arabic version of the Morningness–Eveningness Scale demonstrates robust psychometric properties, supporting its use as a reliable and valid tool for psychological and medical research within Arab populations.