Abstract
General self-efficacy refers to global beliefs about one’s capabilities across a variety of tasks or conditions. It is regarded as an important, relatively stable, motivational trait, and is associated with positive outcomes in a wide range of domains. The general self-efficacy scale (GSE) is the most commonly used measure to evaluate general self-efficacy among adults and youths. This study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the GSE across age groups among adolescent and parent dyads, and to investigate the intergenerational parallelism of general self-efficacy and the moderating roles of parents’ gender and family socioeconomic status (SES). Participants were 807 adolescent/parent dyads. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed that full metric and scalar measurement invariance held. Regression analysis showed that parents’ self-efficacy significantly predicted their children’s self-efficacy (β = 0.232, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis indicated family SES played a moderating role (β = 0.066, p < 0.001), although parents’ gender did not (β = −0.053, p = 0.288). The results demonstrated the GSE’s measurement invariance across age, and further supported use of the GSE among adults and adolescents. Moreover, our findings provided evidence for the presence of this kind of intergenerational parallelism and the moderating role of family SES.
Highlights
Self-efficacy is defined as a personal perceived capability to accomplish specific tasks to achieve the desired results
The original one-factor model of the general self-efficacy scale (GSE) showed a good fit based on Comparative Fit Index (CFI) and SRMR, but was not supported by Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) and root-meansquare error of approximation (RMSEA)
Model 1 refers to the configural invariant factor model; Model 2 refers to the metric invariant factor model; Model 3 refers to a scalar invariant factor model; Model 4 refers to the strict invariant factor model; Model 5 refers to a partial strict invariant factor model
Summary
Self-efficacy is defined as a personal perceived capability to accomplish specific tasks to achieve the desired results. Persons with high self-efficacy have high self-esteem, and low levels of depression, helplessness, and anxiety. They have a strong sense of competence that facilitates cognitive processes and performance in various tasks. They tend to choose challenging tasks, and invest more effort in and persist longer in pursuing their goals than those with low self-efficacy (Bandura, 1997; Scholz et al, 2002).
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