Scale library · Psychology & mental health
General Self-Efficacy Scale: Schwarzer & Jerusalem (1995)
The GSE was developed by Ralf Schwarzer and Matthias Jerusalem (German version from 1979, English version published in 1995) to measure a general belief that one can cope with difficult situations and new demands. It draws on Bandura's self-efficacy theory but at a general level, not tied to a specific task. It is used in theses on academic performance, first-year students' adjustment, entrepreneurial intention and coping with stress.
Cite the original, not the blog.
- Model or scale: GSE
- Constructs: 1
- Items: 10
Original English items
Items marked (R) are reverse-coded: recode them before computing reliability or scale scores. Replace bracketed placeholders such as [system] with the name of the system, brand or organization you study.
General Self-Efficacy (GSE, 10 items)
| Code | Item wording | Reverse-coded |
|---|---|---|
| GSE1 | I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough. | No |
| GSE2 | If someone opposes me, I can find the means and ways to get what I want. | No |
| GSE3 | It is easy for me to stick to my aims and accomplish my goals. | No |
| GSE4 | I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events. | No |
| GSE5 | Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to handle unforeseen situations. | No |
| GSE6 | I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort. | No |
| GSE7 | I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities. | No |
| GSE8 | When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions. | No |
| GSE9 | If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a solution. | No |
| GSE10 | I can usually handle whatever comes my way. | No |
Response scale
4-point truth scale: 1 = Not at all true, 2 = Hardly true, 3 = Moderately true, 4 = Exactly true. There are no reverse-coded items; the total is the sum of the 10 items, from 10 to 40, or use the mean. The authors set no cut-off and discourage splitting respondents into high and low groups.
Licence and permission
According to the authors' FAQ, no separate permission is needed: Schwarzer and Jerusalem allow the GSE to be used and copied for research provided the source is cited.
Sources (APA 7)
- Chen, G., Gully, S. M., & Eden, D. (2001). Validation of a new general self-efficacy scale. Organizational Research Methods, 4(1), 62–83. https://doi.org/10.1177/109442810141004
- Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized Self-Efficacy scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, & M. Johnston (Eds.), Measures in health psychology: A user's portfolio. Causal and control beliefs (pp. 35–37). NFER-NELSON.
Vietnamese translation
A Vietnamese translation of every item, with sample-size advice and studies that used the scale, is on the Vietnamese page for this scale.