Development of a measure of collective efficacy within personal networks: A complement to self-efficacy in self-management support?. Issue 7 (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Band, Rebecca; James, Elizabeth; Culliford, David; Dimitrov, Borislav; Kennedy, Anne; Rogers, Anne; Vassilev, Ivaylo
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 102:Issue 7(2019)
• Page Start: 1389
• Page End: 1396
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Collective efficacy -- Social networks -- Personal communities -- Assessment -- Psychometric evaluation; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2019.02.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Highlights: This is the first scale for measuring collective efficacy in personal communities. The CENS was found to be a psychometrically robust and reliable scale. The CENS is linked to both self-efficacy and social support. When used with self-efficacy it enhances understanding of health and behavior. Abstract: Objective: To develop and evaluate the Collective Efficacy of Networks (CENS) questionnaire to measure perceived collective efficacy within personal social networks. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used, guided by theory and with extensive input from adults with long-term conditions who completed the initial questionnaire (n = 78) with test-retest assessed at 2 weeks (n = 68). A second sample (n = 85) completed a postal questionnaire including CENS, theoretically linked constructs (self-efficacy, social support) and health outcomes (loneliness, mental and physical health). Results: Principal components analysis demonstrated a two-factor structure with 12-items selected to represent Network responsiveness (8 items, Cronbach's alpha = 0.896) and Access to collective efficacy (4 items, Cronbach's alpha = .773). Good test-retest reliability was established for both subscales (ricc = .793–.853). Network responsiveness was associated with self-efficacy (r = 342, p = . < 001) and social support (r = .407, p < .001) and predicted reduced loneliness. Access to collective efficacy significantly predicted better mental health; the predictive validity of the subscales improved when combined with self-efficacy. Conclusion: The CENS is an acceptable and psychometrically robust measure of collective efficacy in personal social networks. Practice implications: Measuring collective efficacy with self-efficacy will provide useful information for researchers and policymakers interested in capacity for self-management and social determinants of behaviour change.