Comparative utility of a single-item versus multiple-item measure of self-efficacy in predicting relapse among young adults

摘要: Single-item measures of psychological experiences are often viewed as psychometrically suspect. The purpose this study was to evaluate the validity and utility a single-item measure self-efficacy in clinical sample treatment-seeking young adults. Inpatient adults (N=303; Age 18–24; 26% female) were assessed at intake residential treatment, end 1-, 3-, 6-months following discharge. consistently correlated positively with well-established 20-item negatively temptation scores from same scale, demonstrating convergent discriminant validity. It also predicted relapse substance use 3- 6-month assessments post discharge, even after controlling for other predictors (e.g., controlled environment), while global or subscale scale did not. Based on these findings, we encourage research practice.