Validation of the aristotelian virtue of conscientiousness scale using confirmatory factor analysis

Aristotelian virtue theory conceptualises virtues as enduring dispositions to behave, reason, and feel in appropriate ways, integrating cognitive, affective, and behavioural components that contribute to wellbeing. Despite the emphasis on these distinct yet interrelated components, few studies have validated a comprehensive virtue model incorporating all essential elements outlined by Aristotle. This study aimed to validate the Aristotelian Virtue of Conscientiousness Scale (AVCS) using a structural equation modelling (SEM) framework. A sample (n = 301) completed the 28-item AVCS alongside measures of distress, life satisfaction, and Big Five Conscientiousness. The AVCS items were structured into eight theory-driven, reliable facets and analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) within a hierarchical SEM model. The eight-factor model demonstrated good fit indices, supporting a higher-order structure with one second-order latent trait comprising eight facets. The AVCS total scale and its facets exhibited strong reliability (α = 0.71–0.93, ω = 0.73–0.92) and correlated positively as expected with life satisfaction, and Big Five Conscientiousness, while Excessive Conscientiousness correlated positively with psychological distress. These findings establish the validity and reliability of the AVCS as an eight-facet measure of Virtue Conscientiousness, offering a theoretically grounded alternative to existing conscientiousness measures. The AVCS provides a valuable tool for wellbeing research, enabling a more nuanced investigation of Aristotelian virtues within psychological and personality research.