title: Evaluation of a disease-specific self-efficacy instrument in adolescents with sickle cell disease and its relationship to adjustment.
abstract: The psychometric properties of a disease-specific instrument used to assess self-efficacy in adolescents with sickle cell disease, the Sickle Cell Self-Efficacy Scale, were evaluated in a sample of 131 adolescents ranging from 11 to 19 years of age. This nine-item instrument was associated with a one-item, general self-efficacy question and an item of self-control. After controlling for age, gender, highest grade of education completed, and the number of individuals in the household, high levels of self-efficacy were related to fewer physical, psychological, and total symptoms. Using the stress process framework to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and self-reported symptoms in adolescents may lead to the initiation of effective intervention programs capable of increasing levels of self-efficacy in adolescents. These interventions could lead to better outcomes for adolescents with sickle cell disease. Additional longitudinal investigations are needed to evaluate the ability of self-efficacy to predict adolescent adjustment over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA.
authors.forename: Olivio J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Clay
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Telfair
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012803:Sick Role; D013223:Statistics as Topic