Psychometric validation of the Chinese version of job-seeking self-efficacy scale for people with disabilities: A preliminary study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy is a key psychosocial factor influencing the outcome of vocational rehabilitation programs. There is lack of a validated job-seeking self-efficacy measure for Chinese persons with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate the Chinese version of the Job-Seeking Self-Efficacy Scale (C-JSS) developed by Barlow, Wright, and Cullen (2002) and to examine its psychometric properties using a Chinese sample of persons with disabilities. METHODS: JSS was first translated into Chinese and reviewed by vocational rehabilitation practitioners and persons with disabilities. Ninety-seven Chinese participants with disabilities were recruited to fill in the questionnaire of JSS and other questions. The internal consistency, structural and coverage validities of C-JSS were evaluated. RESULTS: C-JSS showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.95) and unidimensional factorial structure. For concurrent validity, there were significant correlations between C-JSS with the score of WHODAS 2.0 (p = 0.001), educational level (p < 0.001), job-seeking behavior (p = 0.031), and self-reported professional skills (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that C-JSS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the self-efficacy of job-seeking behavior among a Chinese sample of persons with disabilities.