Adaptation and validation of the new general self-efficacy scale

Abstract

Self-efficacy is a person's belief in their own ability to organize and perform actions, influencing positive human experiences. It is essential to have instruments capable of adequately measuring this construct. This study aimed to adapt and validate the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE) for the Brazilian context, through two independent cross-sectional studies. In both studies, the sample consisted of adults from 18 to 66 years of age, with varying levels of education, who responded to the scale after the translation and adaptation of the original instrument items. The best solution found through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated the maintenance of 6 of the 8 original scale items in a single-factor structure. The final model presented satisfactory fit indices (χ2/gl=2.98; GFI=0.97; CFI=0.97; TLI=0.94; RMSEA=0.08), as well as adequate levels of internal consistency (α=0.83), indicating that this measure can be used in new national studies.