Confirmatory factor analysis of the General Self-Efficacy Scale

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00025-4Get rights and content

Abstract

A confirmatory factor analysis of the factor structure of the adapted General Self-Efficacy Scale, created by Sherer et al. (1982) [Psychological Reports, 51, 663–671], was conducted to assess whether the scale’s purported 3 factors emerged. The results generally supported the 3-factor model, but a model with 3 correlated factors and one higher-order factor (general self-efficacy) proved to fit the data even better.

Section snippets

Confirmatory factor analysis of the General Self-Efficacy Scale

Since the percentage of people of 65 years and older has increased threefold since 1900 (Van Nostrand et al., 1993), the interest in studying factors that may explain changes in the various domains of functioning that occur with aging has grown exponentially. Self-efficacy is thought to be one such factor. Self-efficacy is defined as the belief of a person in his or her ability to organize and execute certain behaviors that are necessary in order to produce given attainments. Self-efficacy

Subjects

The present study is part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). LASA is a 10 year interdisciplinary study on predictors and consequences of changes in autonomy and well-being in the aging population of the Netherlands. Details of the study have been described elsewhere (Smit and de Vries, 1994). LASA uses the sample recruited by the study Living Arrangements and Social Networks of Older Adults in the Netherlands (LSN: Knipscheer et al., 1995). LSN participants were approached for

Conclusion

The purpose of this research note was to replicate the factor structure of the 12-item GSES (Sherer et al., 1982) on a large sample of elderly persons using confirmatory factor analysis with maximum likelihood estimates. The three subscales that were shown in an exploratory study by Woodruff and Cashman (1993)were forced into the solution. Based on pilot work, one item was forced into a different subscale. Two items showed relatively lower factor loadings, but neither for reasons of content nor

Acknowledgements

This study is based on data collected in the course of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), which is funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands.

References (12)

  • A. Bandura

    Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change

    Psychological Review

    (1977)
  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:...
  • Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H....
  • Bosscher, R.J., Smit, J.H., & Kempen, G.J.Th.I. (1997). Algemene competentieverwachtingen bij ouderen: Een onderzoek...
  • L.A. Clark et al.

    Constructing validity: Basic issues in objective scale development

    Psychological Assessment

    (1995)
  • D.A. Cole

    Utility of confirmatory factor analysis in test validation research

    Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

    (1987)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (261)

View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text