Item response theory and differential item functioning analyses of the general self-efficacy scale for Koreans with disabilities
摘要
This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale among Koreans with disabilities using item response theory and differential item functioning. Based on data from 3,912 participants with disabilities collected by the Employment Development Institute in 2019, the GSE scale demonstrated good psychometric properties at both the scale and item levels. Differential item functioning analysis revealed non-zero but negligible effects for several key demographics, such as employment status, education level, gender, socioeconomic status, and living region. The negligible differential item functioning effects support the scale’s broad applicability in this population. The significant associations between self-efficacy and related outcomes such as employment, life satisfaction, and disability acceptance support the construct validity of the scale. Practitioners are encouraged to use the GSE scale to reliably assess self-efficacy among Koreans with disabilities. Future research should examine the differential item functioning across additional demographic characteristics and conduct cross-cultural comparisons to better understand cultural influences on self-efficacy.