The general self-efficacy scale: multicultural validation studies.
General self-efficacy is the belief in one's competence to cope with a broad range of stressful or challenging demands, whereas specific self-efficacy is constrained to a particular task at hand. Relations between general self-efficacy and social cognitive variables (intention, implementation intentions, outcome expectancies, and self-regulation), behavior-specific self-efficacy, health behaviors, well-being, and coping strategies were examined among 1,933 respondents in 3 countries: Germany (n = 633), Poland (n = 359), and South Korea (n = 941). Participants were between 16 and 86 years old, and some were dealing with stressful situations such as recovery from myocardial events or tumor surgery. Perceived self-efficacy was measured by means of the General Self-Efficacy Scale (R. Schwarzer & M. Jerusalem, 1995). Meta-analysis was used to determine population effect sizes for four sets of variables. Across countries and samples, there is consistent evidence for associations between perceived self-efficacy and the variables under study confirming the validity of the psychometric scale. General self-efficacy appears to be a universal construct that yields meaningful relations with other psychological constructs.
Luszczynska
Aleksandra
A
School of Life Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, Flamer, Brigton, UK. A.Luszczynska@sussex.ac.uk
Scholz
Urte
U
Schwarzer
Ralf
R
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D005858:Germany; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology