Measure Of General Self-efficacy Research Articles

An Intervention Study of Middle School Students’ Self-Regulation Skills Based on Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

Individuals in adolescence are prone to behavioral problems, which may be attributed to the weak conflict detection and regulation ability of adolescents, therefore, this study, based on the theoretical foundation of reinforcement sensitivity, focuses on exploring whether it is possible to enhance adolescents’ behavioral inhibitory ability, so as to improve the level of self-regulation and self-efficacy of individuals. The study used the experimental method, and 75 junior high school students (40 in the experimental group and 35 in the control group) were finally selected as the research subjects, and the intervention training was provided to the students. The results of the experiment found that: On the measure of reinforcement sensitivity, the reward sensitivity of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the pre-intervention; the punishment sensitivity was significantly lower than that of the pre-intervention; on the measure of general self-efficacy, the general self-efficacy of the students in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the pre-intervention; there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-intervention levels of conflict regulation and self-regulation, but both of them had an upward trend. Conclusion: The intervention increased students’ general self-efficacy and confidence; it increased students’ reward sensitivity and decreased students’ punishment sensitivity, but it did not increase students’ conflict regulation; there was an upward trend in students’ self-regulation.

An Intervention Study of Middle School Students’ Self-Regulation Skills Based on Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

Individuals in adolescence are prone to behavioral problems, which may be attributed to the weak conflict detection and regulation ability of adolescents, therefore, this study, based on the theoretical foundation of reinforcement sensitivity, focuses on exploring whether it is possible to enhance adolescents’ behavioral inhibitory ability, so as to improve the level of self-regulation and self-efficacy of individuals. The study used the experimental method, and 75 junior high school students (40 in the experimental group and 35 in the control group) were finally selected as the research subjects, and the intervention training was provided to the students. The results of the experiment found that: On the measure of reinforcement sensitivity, the reward sensitivity of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the pre-intervention; the punishment sensitivity was significantly lower than that of the pre-intervention; on the measure of general self-efficacy, the general self-efficacy of the students in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the pre-intervention; there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-intervention levels of conflict regulation and self-regulation, but both of them had an upward trend. Conclusion: The intervention increased students’ general self-efficacy and confidence; it increased students’ reward sensitivity and decreased students’ punishment sensitivity, but it did not increase students’ conflict regulation; there was an upward trend in students’ self-regulation.

PSYCHOMETRIC EVIDENCE OF A MEASURE OF GENERAL SELF-EFFICACY IN PERUVIAN SCHOOLCHILDREN: INTERNAL STRUCTURE, RELIABILITY AND FACTORIAL INVARIANCE AND PROPOSAL OF A BRIEF VERSION

The present research aims to propose a brief version of a measure of general self-efficacy, based on the Self-Efficacy Scale, and to evaluate its evidence of validity based on internal structure, reliability and factorial invariance according to sex. A total of 806 students (67.5% male and 32.5% female) of secondary level from 13 educational institutions in the city of Arequipa (Peru) participated. The data were processed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory. The results indicate that the original 20-item version of the 10-item Brief Alegre Self-Efficacy Scale is unidimensional with adequate goodness-of-fit and reliability indices (ω= .89). In addition, the presence of factorial invariance between males and females was tested. It is concluded that the proposed measure is valid and reliable, with a monotonic level of difficulty. However, more research is needed with representative samples and with respect to other educational variables.

General self-efficacy as a mediator of the association between adverse childhood experiences and psychological distress in gender-minority individuals.

To investigate the mediating role of general self-efficacy (i.e., belief in one's competence to cope with a broad range of stressful or challenging demands) in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression) in gender minority individuals, which include people with a gender identity that is not aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The study sample included gender minority participants who participated in Waves 4 and 5 of Project AFFIRM, a multi-site longitudinal study of gender minority health. ACEs, general self-efficacy, and psychological distress were measured using the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE Module at Wave 4, the PROMIS General self-efficacy measure at Wave 4, and the Brief Symptoms Inventory Global Severity Index (GSI) at Wave 5, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, including age, race, sex assigned at birth, and income, multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess each component of the proposed mediation model. Next, mediation analyses were used to determine whether general self-efficacy mediated the association between ACEs and psychological distress. The sample for this study consisted of 166 gender minority adults with a mean age of 38.6 ± 12.2 years. Most were non-Hispanic White (46.4%) and female assigned at birth (59.6%). Mean ACEs score was 3.2 ± 2.1 (range 0-8), mean general self-efficacy score was 13.9 ± 3.6 (range 4-20), and mean raw-score GSI was 17.3 ± 13.7 (range 0-64). Participants who reported experiencing more ACEs had greater psychological distress (B 1.60; 95% CI=0.66, 2.54) and lower general self-efficacy (B -0.41; 95% CI = -0.67, -0.15). In addition, lower general self-efficacy was associated with higher psychological distress (B -1.06; 95% CI = -1.61, -0.51). Bootstrap estimation of the indirect effect was significant (95% CI=0.14, 0.90) and explained 27.1% (95% CI=7.76, 69.76) of the total effect of ACEs on psychological distress in gender minority adults. Our findings suggest that general self-efficacy partially mediated the positive association between ACEs and psychological distress in gender minority adults. Interventions that aim to improve general self-efficacy may be beneficial in alleviating psychological distress in gender minority adults. Nurses can play an important role in reducing the health risks associated with ACEs by screening gender minority individuals using a trauma-informed approach to care and offering resources and referrals, as appropriate.

Developing a Single-Item General Self-Efficacy Scale: An Initial Study

General self-efficacy represents the global sense of personal capability across various situations and tasks. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a single-item general self-efficacy scale which balances practical demands and psychometric concerns. The psychometric properties of the proposed Single-Item General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-SI) were examined among 231 Singaporean adults. Results based on three statistical methods demonstrated good reliability (.594 .607 and .726, respectively, M = .642), as compared with the reliability scores from other single-item scales. It also showed satisfactory criterion-related validity evidence (i.e., correlation with a multiple-item general self-efficacy scale, r = .795). Validity evidence based on relationships with other constructs was supported by the correlations between the scores of general self-efficacy and the scores of six relevant constructs (i.e., positive correlations with life satisfaction and positive emotions, negative correlations with negative emotions, task and perceived stress, and illness symptoms). More importantly, the GSE-SI and multiple-item scale scores showed consistent correlation patterns with their relevant constructs. Both GSE-SI and multiple-item scale scores significantly discriminated between the three clusters in a similar pattern. The present results show that the GSE-SI is a reliable and valid measure of general self-efficacy and can be recommended in future research to complement the constraints of multiple-item scales.

Validating the Remote First Aid Self-Efficacy Scale for Use in Evaluation and Training of First Responders in Remote Contexts.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the remote first aid self-efficacy scale (RFA SES). The RFA SES is a 30-item self-report scale developed in response to emerging evidence showing that self-efficacy is predictive of performance. Trained alumni from Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) training courses and less trained students from Laurentian University (LU) were recruited via email to complete an online questionnaire at 2 different periods (T1 and T2). The questionnaire included demographic questions, the 30-item RFA SES, the 10-item Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), and the 10-item generalized self-efficacy scale (GSES). Data analysis included assessment of the dimensionality, reliability, and validity of the scale. There were 448 alumni from WMA and 1106 students from LU who participated in the study. The RFA SES demonstrated a clear unidimensional structure. The mean interitem correlation was 0.75 at T1. Test-retest reliability (T1 to T2) was high for both the LU group (intraclass correlation [ICC]=0.90) and the WMA group (ICC=0.92). Moderate correlations were found between RFA SES and CD-RISC (r=0.42, P<0.001), a general measure of resilience, and the GSES (r=0.48, P<0.001), a general measure of self-efficacy. Wilderness Medical Associates participants showed higher mean scores than LU students at T1 (t [569]=16.2, P<0.001). The RFA SES is a unidimensional, reliable, and potentially valid scale. Further research should focus on item reduction followed by additional tests of reliability and validity.

Self-Efficacy, Grit and Perceptions of Rural Employment: What Changes Occur After Graduation?

Purpose: General self-efficacy, occupational self-efficacy, and grit have a correlation with academic and practical success amongst nursing students. The role of these same characteristics during the first 18-24 months following the transition from student to nurse is poorly understood. In addition, when a nursing graduate begins to consider a career in a rural area is also remains unclear. This study sought to understand the change, if any, in general self-efficacy, occupational self-efficacy, grit, and rural employment importance that occurred during this transition period. Sample: Nurses after graduating from a three-year Bachelor of Nursing degree (n=28). Method: A follow-up study of a larger longitudinal mixed-methods cohort design used a survey to examine general self-efficacy, occupational self-efficacy, grit, and rural employment importance among novice nurses. Participants had agreed when completing the initial study as students to participate in a follow-up study 18-24-months after graduating. Findings: Occupational self-efficacy increased as the cohort transitioned from student to professional nurse, while grit was remarkably lower between final year students and novice nurses. No change in earlier measures of general self-efficacy or importance placed on rural careers were detected. Conclusions: Following graduation, new clinicians are focused on building professional identity and the development of foundational skills for practice. Clinical agencies have an opportunity to shift the balance between autonomy and support in order to harness these key characteristics in an effort to improve the longevity and progression of nursing graduates within the nursing profession. Keywords: nurses, students, novice, grit, self-efficacy, community apgarDOI: https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v21i2.680

Enhancing Self-Advocacy After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

To evaluate the efficacy of a novel intervention aimed at enhancing self-advocacy in individuals living with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Community. Sixty-seven (35 allocated to treatment, 32 to control) community-dwelling adults 9 months or more post-TBI (mean of 8.9 years postinjury); previously discharged from inpatient or outpatient TBI rehabilitation; able to travel independently in the community, indicating a level of independence needed to engage in self-advocacy. Longitudinal randomized 2-arm controlled trial (NCT no. 03385824). Computer-generated block randomization allocated participants to treatment/intervention or control/no-intervention. All outcome assessments completed by blinded study staff. A manualized group intervention, Self-Advocacy for Independent Life (SAIL), addressing the self-efficacy beliefs, knowledge, and skills for self-advocacy following TBI. The Self-Advocacy Scale (SAS) (primary); General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE); Personal Advocacy Activity Scale (PAAS); Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). The treatment group showed significantly greater improvement than controls from baseline to posttreatment on the primary measure (SAS) of self-efficacy specific to self-advocacy after TBI (effect size = 0.22). Similar improvements were found on secondary measures of general self-efficacy and satisfaction with life from baseline to posttreatment. However, significant between-groups gains for primary and secondary measures were not maintained over 6- and 12-week follow-up. Individuals living with chronic TBI sequelae can increase self-efficacy specific to self-advocacy, general self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life, through a TBI-specific intervention aimed at empowering individuals to advocate for their own needs and wishes. Sustaining gains over time may require ongoing community collaboration and support. This could involve community-based systems of self-advocacy education, resources, and peer support.

فعالية الذات وعلاقتها بأساليب مواجهة الضغوط لدى طلاب الجامعة اليمنيين

هدفت هذه البحث إلى فحص العلاقة بين فعالية الذات وأساليب مواجهة الضغوط لدى طلاب الجامعة في اليمن .وقد تکونت عينة البحث من (303) طالب وطالبة من الجامعات اليمنية.واشتملت أدوات البحث على : مقياس فعالية الذات العامة ( إعداد الباحث ) ومقياس أساليب مواجهة الضغوط (إعداد الباحث ) . Abstract This study aims to examination the relationship between self-efficacy and coping with stresses among university students in Yemen. study sample consisted of (303) male and female students from Yemeni universities. Study Tools: The measure of general self-efficacy. (prepared by researcher) and The measure coping with Stresses among. (prepared by researcher

Development and Psychometric Testing of the Nurses’ Confidence Scale: Unique Families

ObjectiveTo develop and evaluate an instrument designed to measure the confidence of nurses in their ability to provide neutral, compassionate care to unique families in perinatal settings: the Nurses’ Confidence Scale: Unique Families. DesignProspective instrument development and psychometric study. SettingHealth system in the U.S. Mountain West region. ParticipantsConvenience sample of 62 perinatal/neonatal nurses. MethodsWe developed a two-part scale to measure the confidence of nurses in their ability to care for complex/nontraditional families, termed unique families. Part A was focused on nursing care behaviors for any unique family; Part B was focused on providing care to seven specific unique family populations. Five experts in perinatal nursing or adoption evaluated the scale’s content validity. To test the psychometric properties of the scale, we used item analysis, reliability analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. ResultsThe content validity index was 0.82. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient estimate of internal consistency for Part A was .92. Principal component analysis resulted in two factors that explained 64% of the total variance: skills and resources (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .89) and awareness and sensitivity (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .87). Part B had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .90. Parts A and B showed a strong positive relationship with one another (r = .77). The general self-efficacy measure was strongly and positively correlated with Part A (r = .81) and moderately and positively correlated with Part B (r = .48). ConclusionThe Nurses’ Confidence Scale: Unique Families is a new tool with which to measure the confidence of perinatal/neonatal nurses in providing sensitive, specific care to complex/nontraditional families. Results of our psychometric evaluation supported initial acceptable reliability and validity of the scale.

Moderator Effects in Intervention Studies.

Although nursing intervention studies typically focus on testing hypothesized differences between intervention and control groups, moderator variables can reveal for whom or under what circumstances an intervention may be most effective. The aim of the study was to explain and illustrate moderator effects using data from a nursing intervention study to improve cognitive abilities in those with a chronic health condition. The sample consisted of 178 individuals with multiple sclerosis participating in an experimental study of a cognitive intervention. General linear models were used for analyses. Interaction terms were created to represent moderator effects on three outcomes: self-reported cognitive abilities, use of memory strategies, and verbal memory performance. The Charlson comorbidity index significantly moderated the intervention effect on self-perceived cognitive abilities. Years of education significantly moderated the intervention effect on use of memory strategies. Scores on a general self-efficacy measure significantly moderated the intervention effect on the Controlled Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition. These analyses highlight the key role that moderator effects can play in nursing research. Although random assignment to groups can control potentially biasing effects of extraneous differences among individuals in intervention and control groups, those very differences may suggest fruitful avenues for hypothesis generating research about what works best for whom in intervention studies.

Calibration and initial validation of a general self-efficacy item bank and short form for the NIH PROMIS®.

General self-efficacy is associated with adaptive coping and positive health outcomes. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) has developed self-efficacy item banks for managing chronic conditions, but lacks a general self-efficacy measure. We sought to refine and validate an item-response theory (IRT)-based measure of general self-efficacy for PROMIS®. Ten items were modified from the NIH Toolbox® Self-Efficacy Item Bank by creating "confidence" response options, and administered to a general population sample (n = 1000) with the Toolbox® Self-Efficacy Item Bank, Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), and Generalized Expectancy for Success Scale (GESS). We split the sample in half for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). IRT analyses included evaluation of differential item functioning (DIF). Participants had a mean age of 47.8years and 50.3% were male. EFA showed all items loaded onto one dominant factor and CFA yielded a good fitting model for a general self-efficacy bank with confidence response options (CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.090). Items showed no evidence of DIF by gender, age, education, or race. Internal consistency reliability was α = .94 and .88 for a new 10-item general self-efficacy bank and 4-item short form, respectively. The new bank was correlated with the LOT-R (r = .58), the GESS (r = .55), and the Toolbox® Self-Efficacy Item Bank (r = .87). The PROMIS® General Self-Efficacy measure demonstrated sufficient unidimensionality and displayed good internal consistency reliability, model fit, and convergent validity. Further psychometric testing of the PROMIS® General Self-Efficacy Item Bank and Short Form can evaluate its utility in people with chronic health conditions.

Neuroethical Issues in Cognitive Enhancement: the Undergraduates’ Point of View

To date, legitimacy of the application of cognitive enhancement programs to healthy individuals is still fueling neuroethics discussions. The aim of the present investigation is analyzing naive conceptions of the ethical implications of different practices—namely, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), psychotropic drugs, diet, hydration, and physical activity—which can be followed to enhance cognitive performance. An online survey targeted the opinions of the general public about the efficacy of the neuroenhancement techniques and ethical concerns in different contexts. Measures of general self-efficacy and beliefs about intelligence have been collected as well. Responses of 89 Italian undergraduate students of medicine or psychology were analyzed statistically and thematically. Findings supported the notion that passive ways of enhancing human performance, which fail to imply any personal effort and individual responsibility, are conceived as infringing moral rules, regardless of the context where they are implemented.

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Well-Being Among Surgical Residents

Residency is a challenging time in the lives of physicians. In this study, we examined the relationship between general self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one's own capabilities in a variety of situations, and burnout and psychological well-being in a sample of surgical residents. In the context of a larger study, a cross-sectional survey was administered to residents. The survey included measures of general self-efficacy, the emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment domains of burnout, and general psychological well-being. We examined correlations between self-efficacy and these well-being outcomes and used multivariable linear regression models that controlled for age, gender, postgraduate year, ethnicity, and the interaction between gender and self-efficacy. We surveyed residents at Stanford Health Care, a tertiary care center, between the fall of 2010 and the spring of 2013. One hundred and seventy nine residents from 9 surgical subspecialties responded to the survey for a response rate of 76%. Residents reported high levels of self-efficacy, and over a third reported high emotional exhaustion. Eighty-nine percent of residents had average or high personal accomplishment. In adjusted regression analyses, general self-efficacy was negatively predictive of emotional exhaustion (B = -0.43, p = 0.0127) and positively predictive of personal accomplishment (B = 0.33, p = 0.0185) and general psychological well-being (B = 0.34, p = 0.0010). There was no interaction between gender and general self-efficacy in regression analyses (ps ≥ 0.6776). Among other factors, self-efficacy appears to be significantly predictive of resident well-being. High self-efficacy suggests that residents feel prepared and capable. Interventions to improve residents' general self-efficacy should be explored as a possible mechanism to improve well-being.

The dual model of perfectionism and depression among Chinese University students.

The dual model of perfectionism was adopted to explore the influence of adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism on depression in college students. The results support the dual process model of perfectionism in Chinese undergraduates. A sample of 206 Chinese undergraduates completed measures of perfectionism, General Self-efficacy Measure, Beck Depression Inventory, State Anxiety Inventory, Positive and Negative Affect Scale (Time 1) and Beck Depression Inventory 4 months later (Time 2). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three-factor model of perfectionism with dimensions of maladaptive perfectionism, adaptive perfectionism and order factor fit the date well. Partial correlations analyses revealed that maladaptive perfectionism was related to psychopathology, whereas adaptive perfectionism was more closely correlated with positive features of mental health. In cross-sectional analyses, the discrepancy which measures the perceived difference between the standards one has set for one’s own behaviour and actual performance and the socially prescribed perfectionism subscales of maladaptive perfectionism could significantly predict baseline depressive symptoms. However, after controlling for the initial scores of depression, none of the perfectionism subscales significantly predicted the change in depression across a 4-month lag. Distinguishing adaptive and maladaptive aspects of perfectionism may be beneficial to understanding the influence of perfectionism on depression.

Reexamining the Validity and Dimensionality of the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale: Improving Its Clinical Utility

ObjectiveTo improve the clinical utility of the Moorong Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES) by reexamining its factor structure and comparing its performance against a measure of general self-efficacy in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). DesignCross-sectional survey design. SettingCommunity. ParticipantsAdults with SCI (N=161; 118 men and 43 women) recruited from Australia (n=82) and the United States (n=79), including 86 with paraplegia and 75 with tetraplegia. InterventionsNone. Main Outcome MeasuresConfirmatory factor analysis deriving fit indices on reported 1-, 2-, and 3-factor structures for the MSES. Exploratory factor analysis of MSES using principal component analysis with promax oblique rotation and structure validation, with correlations and multiple regression using cross-sectional data from the Sherer General Self-Efficacy Scale and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). ResultsThe MSES was confirmed to have a 3-factor structure, explaining 61% of variance. Two of the factors, labeled social function self-efficacy and personal function self-efficacy, were SCI condition–specific, whereas the other factor (accounting for 9.7% of variance) represented general self-efficacy, correlating most strongly with the Sherer General Self-Efficacy Scale. Correlations and multiple regression analyses between MSES factors, Sherer General Self-Efficacy Scale total score, SF-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary scores, and SF-36 domain scores support validity of this MSES factor structure. No significant cross-cultural differences existed between Australia and the United States in total MSES or factor scores. ConclusionsThe findings support a 3-factor structure encompassing general and SCI domain–specific self-efficacy beliefs and better position the MSES to assist SCI rehabilitation assessment, planning, and research.

Hope and General Self-efficacy: Two Measures of the Same Construct?

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to test the extent to which hope measure is equivalent to general self-efficacy measure. Questionnaire data on these two constructs and other external variables were collected from 199 Chinese college students. The factor analytic results suggested that hope and self-efficacy items measured the same construct. The unidimensional model combining hope items and GSE items fit the data as well as the bidimensional model, indicating that their corresponding items measured the same underlying construct. Further analyses showed that hope and GSE did not correlate with external variables differently in a systematic manner. Most of these correlational differences were non-significant and negligible. These findings suggested that the literatures studying GSE and hope could be considered to be integrated and that researchers need to recognize and acknowledge the conceptual and operational similarities among these constructs in the literature.

Adaptation and evaluation of the measurement properties of the Brazilian version of the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Adherence Scale.

Objectives:to undertake the cultural adaptation of, and to evaluate the measurement properties of, the Brazilian version of the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Adherence Scale in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, with outpatient monitoring at a teaching hospital. Method:the process of cultural adaptation was undertaken in accordance with the international literature. The data were obtained from 147 CHD patients, through the application of the sociodemographic/clinical characterization instrument, and of the Brazilian versions of the Morisky Self-Reported Measure of Medication Adherence Scale, the General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Adherence Scale. Results:the Brazilian version of the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Adherence Scale presented evidence of semantic-idiomatic, conceptual and cultural equivalencies, with high acceptability and practicality. The floor effect was evidenced for the total score and for the domains of the scale studied. The findings evidenced the measure's reliability. The domains of the Brazilian version of the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Adherence Scale presented significant inverse correlations of moderate to strong magnitude between the scores of the Morisky scale, indicating convergent validity, although correlations with the measure of general self-efficacy were not evidenced. The validity of known groups was supported, as the scale discriminated between "adherents" and "non-adherents" to the medications, as well as to "sufficient dose" and "insufficient dose". Conclusion:the Brazilian version of the Self-efficacy for Appropriate Medication Adherence Scale presented evidence of reliability and validity in coronary heart disease outpatients.

The relationship between self-efficacy and health-related quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis patients

Background and Objectives Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a broad spectrum of physical, social, psychological effects and significant impact on quality of life (QoL). Several studies has showed the importance of self-efficacy as a predictor of QoL in patients with MS.This study aims at evaluating the robustness of the relationship between self-efficacy and QoL. Specifically it aims to test whether such relation will vanish under the following conditions: using a general measure of self-efficacy and controlling for level of impairment defined as a broad construct dealing with physical, social and working changes due to the illness condition. Methods One hundred-fifty five participants responded to a questionnaire, including QoL and general self-efficacy measures, socio demographic and clinical variables. Two nested structural equation models that differ for the presence or absence of the path connecting self-efficacy and QoL was estimated.Results and Conclusions The hypothesis of the vanishing of the relationship between self-efficacy and QoL had to be rejected. These results support the genuineness of this relation and emphasize the importance of interventions promoting self-efficacy to improve QoL in chronic diseases such as MS. From a methodological perspective this study is an example of the usefulness of formative indicators in QoL studies.

Organizational efficacy, job satisfaction and well-being

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the structure, reliability, construct validity, and group invariance of the Italian version of the Bohn Organizational Efficacy Scale (OES), a self-report questionnaire for organizational efficacy assessment in the business context.Design/methodology/approach– The first study included Italian employees of a pasta factory (n=120) to test divergent, convergent, and discriminant validity of the OES with existing instruments. The second study combined three hospital (n=180 Italian health workers) to confirm the structure of the scale.Findings– Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the three-factor solution (collaboration, sense of mission and future, and sense of resilience), and that the structure of the scale was the same across employees of hospital and pasta factory. Results revealed a high internal reliability. The OES correlated positively with corresponding aspects of organizational functioning, well-being, and job satisfaction. The scale did not correlate with measures of general self-efficacy and personal empowerment. Levels of job satisfaction and well-being resulted higher among people with moderate/high organizational efficacy than among adults with low organizational efficacy.Research limitations/implications– Because of the chosen research approach could lead to common method variance issues: it will be important to determine the associations of OES with non-self-report assessments of the same construct.Practical implications– The OES can be applied optimally in the empirical study of factors influencing organizational setting and used in training aiming at strengthening employees’ collective skills.Originality/value– The OES is a valid instrument to measure organizational efficacy. Findings highlighted a strong relationship between collective efficacy, job satisfaction and well-being.