Measuring one component of dispositional self-regulation: attention control in goal pursuit

Self-regulation can be considered a dispositional variable that may be responsible for self-regulatory actions in a broad range of situations. Attention control is a key component of self-regulation when individuals pursue their goals in face of barriers and setbacks. The seven-item Self-Regulation Scale (SRS), designed to measure this component, has been developed in five languages. The psychometric properties of this instrument are examined, including 2297 participants from Costa Rica, Finland, Germany, Poland, and the US. The research question was whether the measure is reliable and valid within and across countries. The findings support this assumption, suggesting that the scale is internally consistent and stable and that it taps a unidimensional construct. Moreover, the criterion-related validity of the scale was examined by using criteria such as self-efficacy, coping, and negative affect, within and across countries.