Development and Validation of the Ego Strength Scale for Children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an objective Ego Strength Scale for Children useful in research and clinical fields for measuring the ego strength of 3rd-6th grade children and to test its validity and reliability. For these purposes, we conducted a two-stage study. First, the scale was developed through data collection, composition of components and questions, a preliminary survey, and a main survey. The main survey was conducted with 1,185 3rd-6th grade children in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, and analyzed through exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Second, the scale we developed was validated through confirmatory factor analysis and convergent-discriminant validity analysis for testing validity related to internal structure. The secondary survey was conducted with 5,494 3rd-6th grade children in Seoul and the province of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Jeju. The study concluded the following: First, the scale was designed to measure 4 factors: competence, initiative, elasticity, and sociability using 26 questions. Second, the Ego Strength Scale for Children was found to be highly valid through validity tests. In addition, it showed high reliability in an internal consistency test and split-half reliability test. As this study developed and validated the Ego Strength Scale for Children in the current situation in which there are few objective instruments to measure children`s ego strength, it is meaningful in that it laid the basis for broader future research on ego strength.