Physical Self-Efficacy Scale – PSE
Measures an individual's self-perceived physical ability and confidence in physical self-presentation.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Physical Self-Efficacy Scale – PSE was developed by Ryckman, R. M., Robbins, M. A., Thornton, B., & Cantrell, P. (1982). It is designed to measure Physical Self-Efficacy. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Physical Ability, Physical Self-Presentation Confidence.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Ability | 1,2,4,6,8,12,13,19,21,22 | 10 |
| Physical Self-Presentation Confidence | 3,5,7,9,10,11,14,15,16,17,18,20 | 12 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Disagree somewhat, 4 = Agree somewhat, 5 = Agree, 6 = Strongly Agree.
The scale includes 11 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Overall scale alpha: 0.82, Physical Ability subscale alpha: 0.85, Physical Self-Presentation Confidence subscale alpha: 0.75.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.