Authenticity Scale for Adolescents – Chinese Version

Description

Authenticity refers to an individual’s positive quality of being able to display their most core and genuine self in daily life without obstacles. In Western countries, research on authenticity is relatively mature, likely due to a cultural emphasis on individualism and a high level of attention to self. As research deepens, measurement tools for authenticity have also become more refined. One widely used tool is the Authenticity Scale (AS) developed by Wood et al. In this scale, authenticity includes three dimensions: 自我疏离 (self-alienation), 接受外部影响 (accepting external influence), and 真实的生活 (authentic living). Self-alienation refers to a subjective experience where the individual does not know who they are, meaning they cannot access their core self; accepting external influence refers to the extent to which individuals accept the influence of others and meet others’ expectations; authentic living refers to the individual’s ability to act in accordance with their true self, i.e., living according to their values and beliefs. Generally, individuals with high authenticity have low self-alienation, are less affected by external influences, and can live authentically. Numerous studies indicate that authenticity is closely related to mental health, as it ensures the full functioning of the individual and promotes self-actualization. Individuals with high authenticity typically experience higher levels of happiness, self-esteem, autonomy, and life meaning, and less stress, anxiety, and depression, while the opposite is true for those with low authenticity. Authenticity is particularly important for adolescents, as they have a strong desire to “become themselves” during this stage. Many adolescents believe that only by shedding their disguises and being their true selves can they achieve their best states. A study of Spanish adolescents found that authenticity, as one of 24 character strengths, has one of the top three associations with life satisfaction among these strengths. Another study in the UK revealed that authenticity can fulfill adolescents’ need for autonomy, leading them to experience greater subjective well-being.

Authors and Contact Email

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Purpose

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Test Year

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Administration Method and Scoring

The Chinese version of the Authenticity Scale was administered to 1,475 adolescents. The scale uses a 7-point Likert scale, with 1 indicating “very untrue” and 7 indicating “very true.”

Reliability and Validity

The internal consistency coefficients for the total authenticity score and its three dimensions (自我疏离, 接受外部影响, 真实的生活) were 0.775, 0.817, 0.764, and 0.679, respectively. The retest reliability was 0.738, 0.622, 0.634, and 0.698, respectively. The Chinese version of the Authenticity Scale demonstrates good reliability and validity among the adolescent population in China, making it a suitable tool for authenticity-related research.

Factors and Subscales

1. 自我疏离 (Self-alienation)
2. 接受外部影响 (Accepting external influence)
3. 真实的生活 (Authentic living)

Keywords

Authenticity, Adolescents, Mental Health, Self-Actualization, Character Strengths

Items in Chinese

1. 我认为做自己要比受欢迎好。
2. 我不知道自己内心真正的想法。
3. 他人意见能强烈地影响到我。
4. 我经常做别人让我做的事。
5. 我总是感到需要做其他人期望我做的事。
6. 其他人对我影响极大。
7. 我感到好像不是很了解自己。
8. 我总是坚持自己的信念。
9. 大多数情况下，我是真实的自己。
10. 我感觉无法触及真实的自我。
11. 我依照自己的价值观和信念行事。
12. 我感到与自我疏离。

Items in English

1. I believe being myself is better than being popular.
2. I do not know my true thoughts inside.
3. Others’ opinions greatly influence me.
4. I often do what others want me to do.
5. I always feel the need to do what others expect me to do.
6. Other people have a significant impact on me.
7. I feel like I do not really understand myself.
8. I always stick to my beliefs.
9. Most of the time, I am my true self.
10. I feel unable to reach my true self.
11. I act according to my values and beliefs.
12. I feel alienated from myself.

References

宋莉莉,王詠,赵昱鲲.真实性量表在我国青少年中的信效度检验[J].中国临床心理学杂志,2020,28(02):344-347+260.DOI:10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2020.02.026.