Assessing Attention Control in Goal Pursuit: A Component of Dispositional Self-Regulation

Abstract

We examined the psychometric properties of the Self-Regulation Scale (SRS; Schwarzer, Diehl, & Schmitz, 1999), a measure of attention control in goal pursuit, in 2 independent studies. Study 1 included young adults (N = 443), whereas Study 2 included young, middle-aged, and older adults (N = 330). In both studies, the SRS showed good internal consistency. In Study 1, the SRS also showed satisfactory test-retest reliability over a 6-week period. We found support for the criterion validity of the SRS in terms of positive correlations with measures of general and domain-specific self-efficacy, proactive coping, and positive affect and in terms of negative correlations with depressive symptoms and negative affect. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that attention control accounted for unique portions of variance in relevant outcome variables above and beyond measures of self-efficacy and proactive coping.Individuals' ability to regulate their thoughts, feelings, and overt actions contributes to psychological health and well-being (Carver & Scheier, 1999). Self-regulatory behavior is complex and involves both dispositional as well as situational components (Carver, 2004). The research we present here focused on a measure to assess one component of dispositional selfregulation, namely, attention control in goal-directed behavior. Attention control is defined as a person's ability to focus his or her attention on a given task, to control and regulate external and internal distractions, and to work toward a desired goal or outcome. As such, attention control is the opposite of impulsive behavior and represents a personality variable that is an integral part of most complex actions and a dispositional component of self-regulation. THEORETICAL BACKGROUNDTraditionally there have been two major theoretical approaches to the study of self-regulatory behavior. The process approach emphasizes that self-regulatory actions are processes that extend over time and are linked to individuals' goals. Karoly (1993) described this approach when he proposed the following definition:Self-regulation refers to those processes, internal and/or transactional, that enable an individual to guide his/her goal-directed activities over time and across changing circumstances (contexts). Regulation implies modulation of thought, affect, behavior, or attention via deliberate or automated use of specific mechanisms and supportive metaskills. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptInherent in process approaches is the notion that self-regulatory behavior is sequential in nature and includes subcomponents such as planning, directing and maintaining attention, evaluation of actions, correction of behavior, and termination of actions (Baumeister & Heatherton, 1996;Carver & Scheier, 1999;Karoly, 1993;Schwarzer, 2001).The other major theoretical approach is rooted in the tradition of personality psychology and conceptualizes self-regulation as an individual difference variable. Advocates of this approach poi...

Self-Regulation Capacity and Decision Making of Slovak Managers in Routine Situations and in Situations with Possible Negative Outcomes

“…Responses are summed into a total score, with higher scores indicating greater ability to control and maintain one's attention. The psychometric analysis of Diehl et al (2006) revealed that the scale showed good internal constituency and also satisfactory test-retest reliability over a 6-week period. The criterion validity of the scale was supported by positive correlations with contentrelated measures.…”

“…For measuring self-regulation, the Self-Regulation Scale (SRS) (Schwarzer et al, 1999;Diehl et al, 2006) was used. It is a self-report questionnaire, developed to cover emotional and attention aspects of self-regulation.…”

Psychometric Evaluation of The Romanian Version of The Irrational Procrastination Scale in a Military Student Population

“…This scale measures the individual's ability to control their thoughts and emotions in order to achieve their goals and support their performance in specific areas of interest. Diehl, Semegon and Schwartzer [16] used this scale to measure an individual's ability to maintain a high level of control over attention in pursuing personal goals and they reported a good internal consistency and a good criterion validity of the scale.…”

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“…The Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SSRQ) (Carey, Neal, & Collins, 2004) Mental Health  Self-Regulation Questionnaire Pro-Social (SRQ-P) (Ryan & Connell, 1989) Mental Health  Self-Regulated Learning Interview Schedule (SRLIS) (Zimmerman & Martinez-Pons, 1988) Psychoeducation As research on self-regulation advanced into the 1990s, the instruments that were developed started to hone in on measures of very specific cognitive sub-skills, as exemplified by the SelfRegulation Scale, which assesses attention-control (Diehl, Semegon, & Schwarzer, 2006), and the Self-Regulation Questionnaire , which assesses cognitive skills Table 1 using an asterisk.…”