Assessment of Vocational Interests by Areas of Psychology: Relations with the Big Five and RIASEC

This study aimed to verify the psychometric properties of the Scale of Interests by Areas of Psychology (Escala de Interesses por Áreas da Psicologia—EIAPsi-55) and test the predictive relationship of the Big Five and RIASEC on the interests by areas of work assessed by the scale. The sample consisted of 2366 participants, Brazilian and Portuguese, where 1433 were Psychology students and 593 graduated psychologists. All participants responded to EIAPsi-55, and 438 participants also responded to 18REST and Mini-Markers for Assessing the Personality. The factor structure tested with five items per factor adequately represented the data, showing invariance according to participants’ gender, education, and country of residence. The RIASEC and the Big Five personality models’ dimensions were positive predictors of interests by areas of Psychology, explaining between 17 (Neuropsychology) and 56% (Organizational) of the variance of the EIAPsi factors. This study provides evidence for the use of EIAPsi-55 in research and practical contexts with Psychology students and psychologists.