Self-Regulatory Profile Scale: Development and Initial Psychometric Validation Using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

The ability to self-regulate, and the consequences of under-regulation, have long been an area of inquiry for many disciplines. Various domains of self-regulation have historically been studied independent of one another, despite the interactive nature and interdependent development of the domains. Currently, no quantitative measure exists that evaluates the whole of the self-regulatory system. This study seeks to confirm a factor structure of six pillars (i.e., domains) of self-regulation, as proposed by the Self-Regulation Model of Attachment Trauma and Addiction (Padykula and Conklin, 2010) using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). A psychometric validation of the measure was completed in two cross-sectional studies. In a third study, the measure was externally validated against a nomological network of related constructs. ESEM confirmed the use of the six-pillar-12-facet model to examine a profile of self-regulation. Clinical and research implications of the findings are discussed.