Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Short Questionnaire on Self-Efficacy Expectations in Dealing with Psychologically Difficult Situations (SWEP)

Objective Development and psychometric evaluation of a German 6-item instrument to assess self-efficacy expectations to seek support in psychologically difficult situations (SWEP). Methods Development of items, determination of distribution characteristics, factor structure, and internal consistency of the scale based on a paper-pencil survey (N = 269) and a survey of an online intervention on suicide prevention (N = 802). Results Principal component analysis revealed the SWEP scale to be a one-dimensional construct with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =.83 and alpha =.89). We found content-plausible correlations to other constructs and initial evidence of a high retest reliability. Conclusion The SWEP provides a reliable, valid, brief instrument for assessing self-efficacy expectations of being able to seek support.