Development of an Instrument to Measure Self-Efficacy for Social Participation of People With Mental Illness

Abstract

Promoting social participation is consistent with the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation of people with severe mental illness, but lack of self-efficacy in social participation is a major barrier to the community integration of these people. The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument in the form of a mental illness scale (self-efficacy for social participation [SESP]) to measure self-efficacy in social participation among Japanese people and to evaluate the scale's reliability and validity. Devised from a content analysis of interviews with 12 patients regarding their participation in socialization programs, the scale consisted of 37 items. The scale's validity and reliability were tested in a total of 340 community-dwelling individuals with severe mental illness. The final scale consisted of four dimensions with 27 items. Internal consistency of the overall SESP-27 was excellent (α = .96). The scale demonstrated adequate criterion and construct validity and was psychometrically sound. The scale may offer clinicians a tool for planning how to help individuals with mental illness boost their self-efficacy in social participation and community integration.