Development and psychometric validation of the task-specific self-efficacy and outcome expectancy scales for Chinese people with severe and persistent mental illness

Objective. The objectives of this study are twofold: (a) to validate a task-specific self-efficacy scale and a task-specific outcome expectancy scale for Chinese people with severe and persistent mental illness, based on the stage of change model; and (b) to determine the effect of self-efficacy and outcome expectancy on the readiness for rehabilitation among Chinese people with severe and persistent mental illness. Participants . Fifty-eight men and 62 women with chronic mental illness. Measures. Task-Specific Self-Efficacy Scale for People with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (TSSE-SPMI), Task-Specific Outcome Expectancy scale (TSOE-SPMI), Mastery Scale, and Change Assessment Questionnaire for People with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (CAQ-SPMI). Results. Factor analysis of the TSSE-SPMI resulted in four subscales: Interpersonal Skills, Symptom Management Skills, Help-Seeking Skills, and Work-Related Skills. Factor analysis of the TSOE-SPMI resulted in three subscales: Coping Skills, Symptom Management Skills, and Work-Related Skills. In addition, Chinese people with mental illness can be meaningfully classified into four stages of change (SOC) groups: precontemplation, contemplation, ambivalent/conforming, and action/maintenance. Stages of change are related to self-efficacy in interpersonal skills, symptoms management, and help-seeking skills as well as expectations about the benefit of having good social and coping skills. Conclusion . The results support the construct validity of the TSSE-SPMI and the TSOE-SPMI for the Chinese population. The SOC concept is useful for tailoring culturally sensitive psychiatric rehabilitation interventions for Chinese people with severe and persistent mental illness.