Factor Analysis and Item Reduction of the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) in a Sample Peruvian

Academic and occupational success requires social intelligence, the ability to comprehend, and manage interpersonal connections. This research aims to assess and improve the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) for Peruvian university students, focusing on cultural adaptability, reliability, and validity. Participants included 973 university students, of whom 64.44% were women (M = 24.96 years, SD = 7.45). CFA and EFA were used to evaluate the TSIS’s three dimensions: Social Awareness, Social Skills, and Social Information Processing. Removed items with low factor loadings or large residual correlations improved validity and clarity. Academic self-efficacy correlations measured content validity, whereas the omega coefficient rated reliability. The improved TSIS has a strong three-factor structure and good model fit (CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.05). Reliability coefficients were 0.70–0.86. Social Awareness had a negative link with academic self-efficacy, suggesting emotional obstacles in academic contexts. Social Skills had a significant relationship. The verified TSIS measures social intelligence in Peruvian university students in a culturally appropriate, reliable manner, promoting academic performance and self-efficacy. Its simplified form makes it practical, and future study should examine its cross-cultural relevance and relationships to other psychological categories.