Measuring Self-Efficacy in the Context of Pediatric Diabetes Management: Psychometric Properties of the Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale

J Pediatr Psychol. 2018 Mar 1;43(2):143-151. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsx094.

Abstract

Objective: The Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale (SED) is a widely used measure of diabetes-specific self-efficacy with three subscales: diabetes-specific self-efficacy (SED-D), medical self-efficacy (SED-M), and general self-efficacy (SED-G). The present study examined the factor structure and construct validity of the SED in 116 youth, aged 10-16 years (13.60 ± 1.87), with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to examine the factor structure of the SED. Correlational and regression analyses examined relations between subscales and select outcomes.

Results: CFA of the original three-factor structure provided a poor fit to the data. Factor models using rescaled items were tested. Results provided preliminary evidence for the SED-D as an independent one-factor model, and for a reduced one-factor model. Significant associations were found between the SED subscales, responsibility for diabetes management, and glycated hemoglobin.

Conclusions: Results provide limited support for the SED-D as a reliable and valid measure of diabetes-specific self-efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / psychology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* / therapy
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychometrics* / instrumentation
  • Psychometrics* / standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Self-Management* / psychology

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human