title: Development of the Professional Self-Care Scale.
abstract: In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on the importance of self-care for psychologists and other mental health professionals. With the growth of positive psychology and preventive medicine, self-care is an emerging topic, promulgated as a means of avoiding the adverse effects of stress and promoting professional functioning and well-being. However, the research on self-care is limited because of the lack of an empirically based, psychometrically sound measure of this construct. Thus, the purpose of this project was to develop a measure of professional self-care. Professional psychologists were the focus of study, with the goal being to develop a measure that can be used in this population and similar groups of professionals. Based on expert feedback and a preliminary study of 422 licensed psychologists in Illinois, a 5-factor, 21-item scale was created. Factor analysis identified the following self-care factors: Professional Support, Professional Development, Life Balance, Cognitive Awareness, and Daily Balance. Preliminary analyses provided initial support for the validity of the 5 factors. A follow-up study was conducted with a second sample of clinical psychologists. The 5-factor structure provided a good fit to the data with the second sample. Thus, based on factor analysis and validity data, a 5-factor, 21-item Professional Self-Care Scale was established for further study and use in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dorociak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rupert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago.
authors.forename: Fred B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Loyola University Chicago.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zahniser
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires