The Brief Self-Control Scale and Its Refined Version among Incarcerated and Community Youths: Psychometrics and Measurement Invariance

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2019

Authors

Pechorro, P (Author) Other; DeLisi, M (Author) Other; Goncalves, RA (Author) Other; Quintas, J (Author) FDUP; Hugo Palma, V (Author) Other

Journal

Title: DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

Pages: 1-18

ISSN: 0163-9625

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-C90

DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2019.1684942

Abstract (EN): Self-control refers to the ability to override impulses and behave in accordance with societal norms, and deficits in self-control are strongly associated with conduct problems, externalizing disorders, crime, and violence. Here, we examine the psychometric properties of the Brief Self-Control Scale (BSCS) and its refined version (BSCS-R) among a forensic sample (n = 131) of incarcerated male youth and a school sample of male (n = 257) and female (n = 213) youth from Portugal. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the original one-factor structure of the BSCS and the refined two-factor structure of the BSCS-R obtained adequate fits. The BSCS demonstrated strong measurement invariance across gender and setting (forensic versus school), while the BSCS-R only revealed gender measurement invariance. The BSCS also tended to perform better that the BSCS-R in terms of other psychometric properties, including internal consistency measured by Alpha and Omega coefficients, discriminant and convergent validities, criterion validity, and known-groups validity. Findings support the use of the BSCS among justice-involved and community youth, but caution is advised regarding the use of its refined version in forensic settings.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 18