Revisiting the balanced inventory of desirable responding: psychometric structure and personality correlates across heterogeneous groups

Introduction Socially desirable responding (SDR) encompasses both self-enhancing self-views and strategic self-presentation, yet debate persists regarding whether these tendencies reflect response distortion or substantive self-regulatory traits. Methods The dataset included 130 individuals (19 with medical In a heterogeneous sample of inmates, nurses, managers, and working adults, we examined the structure and personality correlates of the 16-item short form of the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR-6). Phase 1 evaluated dimensionality and item functioning using exploratory graph analysis, item response theory, differential item functioning, and confirmatory factor analysis. Results Results supported the theorized two-factor structure comprising Self-Deceptive Enhancement (SDE) and Impression Management (IM), with largely comparable structural patterns and minimal item bias across groups. Phase 2 examined construct validity within Big Five and HEXACO frameworks. SDE was associated with lower Neuroticism and higher Extraversion and Conscientiousness, whereas IM was positively related to Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Honesty–Humility and negatively related to Neuroticism. These associations were largely consistent across correctional and occupational contexts, although modest group differences emerged, particularly for IM. Discussion/Conclusion Overall, findings indicate that the BIDR-6 captures trait-linked self- and social-regulatory processes that generalize across diverse evaluative environments, supporting interpretations of SDR as more than mere response distortion.