Perceived self-efficacy in health behaviour research: Conceptualisation, measurement and correlates

Two studies examine the psychometric properties and socio-demographic correlates of the General Self-efficacy Scale (GSE) (Jerusalem and Schwarzer, 1986; Schwarzer, 1993). Further, the relationship between GSE and different types of task-specific self-efficacy (TSSE) was studied. Data from 421 Norwegian daily smokers aged 16-79 and 1576 Norwegian 18-year-olds were applied. The results showed that the factor structure, internal consistency and test-retest reliability of GSE were satisfactory. The construct validity of GSE was also supported. The results indicated the existence of complex relationships between GSE and gender, age and education, respectively. Positive correlations were found between GSE and smoking specific self-efficacy (SSSE) and injury risk related self-efficacy (IRSE), respectively. However, GSE did not predict the intention to try to stop smoking while SSSE did. The relationship between GSE and TSSE was addressed with reference to different types of attribution and the possibility that the value of different efficacy experiences may vary between people and throughout the lifecourse.