Psychometric Indicators of the “Proactive Attitudes” Scale in Adolescence: Testing the Factor Structure and Internal Consistency

This study was carried out as part of the development of psychodiagnostics tools for studying the proactive coping behavior in adolescents. Currently, there are few studies on proactive coping in adolescence, given the variety of studies on general coping behavior in adolescents. The aim of the study was to identify the psychometric properties of R. Schwarzer’s “Proactive Attitudes” scale, including its factor structure, internal consistency and validity, among adolescents. A total sample of 237 participants (117 girls and 120 boys) aged 11–15 years old (M=13.2; SD=1.41), was used. The scale consists of 8 questions and was designed to assess the level of proactive attitudes towards future events. The scale showed acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient α=0.78). Exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the scale (“Responsibility and independent choice”), using confirmatory factor analysis the one-factor structure of the scale was confirmed (χ²=34.17; CFI=0.959 acceptable, SRMR=0.041; SMSEA=0.069 with 90% confidence interval 0.032–0.104). The scale demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity. Average scores on the scale are presented, gender differences were not found. The “Proactive Attitudes” scale can be used as an effective tool for assessing a person’s proactive orientation in adolescence, and has acceptable psychometric indicators. The prospect of work should focus on standardizing of the scale for other age groups with different professional and social status, including clinical sample.

1. Belinskaya E.P., Vecherin A.V., Agadullina E.R. Oprosnik proaktivnogo kopinga: adaptatsiya na neklinicheskoi vyborke i prognosticheskie vozmozhnosti [Questionnaire for proactive coping: adaptation to a non-clinical sample and predictive capabilities]. Klinicheskaya i spetsial'naya psikhologiya = Clinical Psychology and Special Education. 2018. Vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 192–211. DOI:1017759/psyclin.2018070312 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
2. Belogay K.N., Bugrova N.A. Obraz budushchego u starshikh podrostkov: mezhpolovyye razlichiya [Image of the future in older adolescents: gender differences. Psychological and pedagogical research]. Psikhologo-pedagogicheskiye issledovaniya = Psychological and pedagogical research, Vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 86–104. DOI: 10.17759/psyedu.2020120107 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
3. Bekhter A.A. Adaptatsiya metodiki «Proaktivnoye sovladayushcheye povedeniye na podrostkovoy vyborke: proverka vnutrenney soglasovannosti, standartizatsii, validizatsii i test-retestovoy nadezhnosti [Adaptation of the “Proactive coping behavior” method on a teenage sample: checking internal consistency, standardization, validation and test-retest reliability.]. Gertsenovskiye chteniya: psikhologicheskiye issledovaniya v obrazovanii = Herzen readings: psychological research in education, Vol. 4, pp. 76—84. DOI:10.33910/herzenpsyconf-2021-4-9 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
4. Bekhter A.A. Issledovaniye proaktivnogo sovladayushchego povedeniya i proaktivnykh attityudov mladshikh shkol'nikov: postanovka problem [Study of proactive coping behavior and proactive attitudes of junior schoolchildren: statement of the problem]. Materialy V Mezhdunarodnoj Nauchnoj Konferencii «Psikhologiya stressa i sovladayushchego povedeniya: vyzovy, resursy, blagopoluchiye» = Proceedings of the 5th international scientific conference «Psychology of stress and coping behavior: challenges, resources, well-being». Kostroma, 2019. Vol. 1. Pp. 314–318. (In Russ.)
5. Bekhter A.A. Pervichnaya adaptatsiya i validizatsiya shkaly R. Shvartsera «Proaktivnyye attityudy» na neklinicheskoy vyborke: proverka vnutrenney soglasovannosti i test-retestovoy nadezhnosti [Primary adaptation and validation of the Schwarzer’s “Proactive attitudes” scale on a non-clinical sample: checking internal consistency and test-retest reliability]. Eksperimental'naya psikhologiya = Experimental psychology, 2022. Vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 213–226. DOI: 10.17759/exppsy.2022150215 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
6. Bekhter A.A., Filatova O.A. Adaptatsiya shkaly R. Shvartsera «Proaktivnyye attityudy»: validizatsiya i psikhometricheskaya proverka na vyborke rossiyskoy molodezhi [Adaptation of R. Schwarzer’s “Proactive Attitudes” scale: validation and psychometric testing on a sample of Russian youth.]. Vestnik RUDN. Seriya-Psihologiya-i-pedagogika = RUDN Journal of Psychology and Pedagogics, Vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 158–178. DOI: 10.22363/2313-1683-2022-19-1-158-178 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
7. Bochaver A.A., Dokuka S.V., Sivak Ye.V., Smirnov I.B. Ispol'zovaniye sotsial'nykh setey v internete i depressivnaya simptomatika u podrostkov [Use of social networks on the Internet and depressive symptoms in adolescents]. Klinicheskaya i spetsial'naya psikhologiya = Clinical and special psychology, Vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 1–18. DOI: 10.17759/cpse.2019080301 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
8. Erzin A.I., Antohin E.U. Aprobacija metodiki diagnostiki proaktivnosti v klinicheskih vyborkah [Testing the proactivity diagnostic technique in clinical samples]. Psihologija i psihotehnika = Psychology and Psychotechnics, 2015. Vol. 80, no. 5, pp. 493—499. DOI: 10.7256/2070-8955.2015.5.13777 (In Russ., а in Engl.)
9. Kryukova T.L. Psikhologiya sovladayushchego povedeniya v raznyye periody zhizni: monografiya [Psychology of coping behavior in different periods of life: monograph]. Kostroma, 2010. 296 p. (In Russ.)
10. Kuftyak Ye.V., Bekhter A.A., Filatova O.A. et al. Prediktory proaktivnogo preodoleniya na etape ranney vzroslosti: kross-kul'turnoye issledovaniye [Predictors of proactive coping at the stage of early adulthood: a cross-cultural study]. Klinicheskaya i spetsial'naya psikhologiya = Clinical and special psychology, 2023, no. 2, pp. 164–191. DOI: 10.17759/cpse.2023120208 (In Russ., abstr. in Engl.)
11. Morosanova V.I., Bondarenko I.N. Diagnostika samoregulyatsii cheloveka [Diagnosis of human self-regulation]. Moscow, 2015. 304 p. (In Russ.)
12. Regush L.A., Alekseyeva Ye.V., Veretina O.R. et al. Psikhologicheskiye problemy podrostkov v real'noy i virtual'noy srede: metodika issledovaniya [Psychological problems of adolescents in real and virtual environments: research methodology]. Kul'turno-istoricheskaya psikhologiya = Cultural-historical psychology, Vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 84–96. DOI: 10.17759/chp.2023190111 (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)
13. Rokitskaya Yu. A. Faktornaya struktura koping-povedeniya podrostkov [Factor structure of adolescents' coping behavior]. Vestnik Chelyabinskogo gosudarstvennogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta = Bulletin of the Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University, 2018. No. 3, pp. 220–233. DOI: 10.25588/CSPU.2018.03.23 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
14. Sergiyenko Ye.A., Vilenskaya G.A., Kovaleva Yu.V. Kontrol' povedeniya kak subyektnaya regulyatsiya [Behavior control as subjective regulation]. Moscow, 2010. 352 p. (In Russ.)
15. Sheinov V.P. Svyazi problemnogo ispol'zovaniya smartfona s proyavleniyami psihologicheskogo neblagopoluchiya [The Relationship of Problematic Smartphone Use with Manifestations of Psychological Ill-Being]. Sovremennaya zarubezhnaya psikhologiya = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, Vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 123–133. DOI: 10.17759/jmfp.2023120411 (In Russ.)
16. Soldatova G.U., Rasskazova Ye.I. Tsifrovaya sotsializatsiya rossiyskikh podrostkov: skvoz' prizmu sravneniya s podrostkami 18 yevropeyskikh stran [Digital socialization of Russian teenagers: through the prism of comparison with teenagers in 18 European countries]. Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social psychology and society, 2023. Vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 11–30. DOI: 10.17759/sps.2023140302 (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
17. Starchenkova E.S. Kontseptsiya proaktivnogo sovladayushchego povedeniya [The concept of proactive coping behavior]. Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskogo universiteta = Bulletin of St. Petersburg University, 2009. Vol. 2, part 1, pp. 198–205. (In Russ.)
18. Stolin V.V., Pantileyev S.R. Praktikum po psikhodiagnostike: Psikhodiagnosticheskiye materialy [Workshop on psychodiagnostics: Psychodiagnostic materials]. Moscow, 1998. Pp.123–130. (In Russ.)
19. Syrtsova A., Sokolova Ye. T., Mitina O.V. Adaptatsiya oprosnika vremennoy perspektivy lichnosti F. Zimbardo [Adaptation of the F. Zimbardo Time Perspective Personality Questionnaire]. Psikhologicheskiy zhurnal = Psychological Journal, 2008. Vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 101–109. (In Russ., а in Engl.)
20. Khazova S.A., Ostanina N.V. Vozrastnaya spetsifika sovladayushchego povedeniya podrostkov. Sibirskiy pedagogicheskiy zhurnal [Age specificity of coping behavior in adolescents]. Sibirskij psihologicheskij zhurnal = Siberian psychological Journal, 2014. No. 1, pp. 180–185. (In Russ., abstr. In Engl.)
21. Khegay A.S., Zolotareva A.A., Kashtanova T.A. et al. Shkala otkrytosti budushchemu: russkoyazychnaya adaptatsiya i validizatsiya [Openness to the future scale: Russian-language adaptation and validation]. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling psychology and psychotherapy, 2023 Vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 119–136. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2023310206 (In Russ., а in Engl.)
22. Blomgren, A., Svahn K., Åström E., Rönnlund M. Coping Strategies in Late Adolescence: Relationships to Parental Attachment and Time Perspective. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 2016. Vol. 177, no. 3, pp. 85–96. DOI: 10.1080/00221325.2016.1178101
23. De Caroli M., Falanga R., Sagone E. Prosocial Behavior and Moral Reasoning in Italian Adolescents and Young Adults. Research in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 2014. Vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 48–53. DOI: 10.12691/rpbs-2-2-3
24. Dumitrescu A.L., Dogaru B.C., Dogaru C.D., Manolescu B. The Relationship Between Self-Reported Oral Health, Self-Regulation, proactive Coping, Procrastination and Proactive Community Dental Health, 2011. Vol. 28, pp. 170–173. DOI: 10.1922/CDH_2554Dumitrescu04
25. Foster S., Estévez N., Walitza S. Perceived Stress, Coping Strategies, and Mental Health Status among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Switzerland: A Longitudinal Study. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2022. Vol. 32, no. 13. DOI: 10.1007/s00787-022-02119-y
26. Greenglass E., Schwarzer R., Jakubiec D. et al. The Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI): A Multidimensional Research Instrument. Stress and Anxiety Research Society (STAR). Proceeding of the 20th International Conference, 1999. Cracow, Poland. URL: http://www.alabanza.com/lothian/york/ (Accessed: 24.06.2024)
27. Huang S., Lai X., Ke L., Qin X., Yan J., Xie Y., Dai X., Wang Y. Coping styles among Chinese adolescents: The development and validation of a smartphone coping style scale. Journal of Children and Media, Vol. 17 (4), pp. 448–505. DOI: 10.1080/17482798.2023.2239951
28. Nabeel T., Zafar H. Parental Attachment and Proactive Attitude among Adolescents. Multidisciplinary Research Journal (JPAIR), 2012. Vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 281–301. DOI: 10.7719/jpair.v7i1.165
29. Niazi Y., Javaid F., Gul M. Parental Bonding as a Predictor of Self-Regulation, Proactive Attitude and Academic Performance in University Students. Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 2022. Vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 53–65. DOI: 10.20547/jess1012210104
30. Sachs J. Psychometric Properties of The Proactive Attitude Scale in Students at the University Of Hong Kong. Psychological Report, 2003. Vol. 93, pp. 805–815. DOI: org/10.2466 /pp0.2003.93.3.805
31. Schwarzer R., Jerusalem M. Skalenzurerfassung von lehrer- und schülermerkmalen: dokumentation der psychometrischen Verfahrenim Rahmen der Wissenschaftlichen Begleitung des Modell versuchs Selbstwirksame Schulen. Berlin, 1999. 101 p.
32. Schwarzer R. Stress, resources, and proactive coping. Applied Psychology: An International Review, Vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 400–407.
33. Sleczka P., Braun B., Grüne B. et al. Proactive Coping and Gambling Disorder Among Young Men. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 2016. Vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 639–648. DOI: 10.1556/2006.5.2016.080
34. Sonia K. R-N., Sonia C., Yvonne C., Villada G.J. Predicting Well-Being and Life Satisfaction in Colombian Adolescents: The Role of Emotion Regulation, Proactive Coping, and Prosocial Behavior. Psykhe (Santiago), 2020., Vol.29, no2, pp. 1– DOI: 10.7764/psykhe.29.2.1420