Generalized self-efficacy: Family and adjustment correlates

As part of a large-scale epidemiological survey, we present a first step toward creating a model of generalized self-efficacy (GSE) that incorporates family variables and the child's adjustment. Psychometric analyses of a measure of GSE (the Perceived Self-Eficacy Scale [PSE]; Cowen et al., 1991) were extended to the adolescent age group and confirmed sound construct and content validity of the PSE scale. New areas of investigation included correlational analyses between the PSE scale and family variables and the PSE scale and adjustment problems. Of the family variables, the strongest association with the PSE scale was nurturing parenting style. Of the adjustment measures, the strongest correlations with the PSE scale were mental health problems as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991a, 1991b, 1991c, 1991d).