Yes, I can! Development and validation of the self-efficacy for self-help scale

Abstract

Background: Self-help interventions for health complaints promise alleviation, for instance, of depressive symptoms, and have become increasingly popular. However, despite constant progress regarding digitally supported self-help, real-world uptake is low and motivational processes, like task-specific self-efficacy, are rarely investigated. Therefore, this study developed and tested the Self-Efficacy for Self-Help Scale (SESH).

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial of a positive psychological online intervention to foster self-help, 344 adults (mean age = 49.26 years, SD = 27.85; 61.9 % female) completed SESH at three time points (pretest, posttest, 2-week follow-up). Psychometric testing included factorial validity, reliability (internal consistency, split-half), convergent validity (via depression coping self-efficacy), discriminant validity (via depression severity, depression literacy), sensitivity to change (due to the intervention), and predictive validity (via a theory of planned behavior questionnaire on self-help).

Results: The unidimensional scale showed excellent reliability, construct validity, and predictive validity regarding self-help (the theory of planned behavior explained 49 % of variance in self-help intentions). The analysis did not clearly support sensitivity to change, however, SESH scores did not change in the intervention group but were lower in the control group at posttest.

Limitations: The study was not representative of the population, and the intervention was not previously tested. Studies with longer follow-ups and more diverse samples are needed.

Conclusions: This study closes a gap in current self-help research by presenting a psychometrically sound measure to capture self-efficacy for self-help that can be used in epidemiological studies as well as clinical practice.

Keywords: Assessment; Depression; Positive psychology; Self-efficacy; Self-help.