Ross Lisa Thomson, Short Stephen D, Garofano Marina
a College of Charleston.
J Psychol. 2016 Nov 16;150(8):976-1003. doi: 10.1080/00223980.2016.1225660. Epub 2016 Sep 14.
Experiencing unpredictability in the environment has a variety of negative outcomes. However, these are difficult to ascertain due to the lack of a psychometrically sound measure of unpredictability beliefs. This article summarizes the development of the Scale of Unpredictability Beliefs (SUB), which assesses perceptions about unpredictability in one's life, in other people, and in the world. In Study I, college students (N = 305) responded to 68 potential items as well as other scales. Exploratory factor analysis yielded three internally consistent subscales (Self, People, and World; 16 items total). Higher SUB scores correlated with more childhood family unpredictability, greater likelihood of parental alcohol abuse, stronger causal uncertainty, and lower self-efficacy. In Study II, a confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor solution (N = 186 college students). SUB scores correlated with personality, childhood family unpredictability, and control beliefs. In most instances the SUB predicted family unpredictability and control beliefs beyond existing unpredictability measures. Study III confirmed the factor structure and replicated family unpredictability associations in an adult sample (N = 483). This article provides preliminary support for this new multi-dimensional, self-report assessment of unpredictability beliefs, and ideas for future research are discussed.
经历环境中的不可预测性会产生各种负面结果。然而，由于缺乏一种心理测量上合理的不可预测性信念测量方法，这些结果很难确定。本文总结了不可预测性信念量表（SUB）的开发过程，该量表评估对个人生活、他人以及世界中不可预测性的认知。在研究I中，大学生（N = 305）对68个潜在项目以及其他量表进行了回应。探索性因素分析得出了三个内部一致的子量表（自我、他人和世界；共16个项目）。较高的SUB分数与更多的童年家庭不可预测性、父母酗酒的更大可能性、更强的因果不确定性以及更低的自我效能感相关。在研究II中，验证性因素分析支持了三因素解决方案（N = 186名大学生）。SUB分数与人格、童年家庭不可预测性和控制信念相关。在大多数情况下，SUB比现有的不可预测性测量方法更能预测家庭不可预测性和控制信念。研究III在一个成人样本（N = 483）中证实了因素结构并重复了家庭不可预测性关联。本文为这种新的多维度、自我报告的不可预测性信念评估提供了初步支持，并讨论了未来研究的思路。
