AD ALTA
JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
represented by goal orientation and self-control used to avoid
risky situations.
The main aim of this study was to focus specifically on the area
of self-care and identify dimensions of self-regulation within this
context. While the current understanding of self-care is
predominantly seen in relation health, in this study it is
conceptualized as a much broader phenomenon. The theoretical
analysis has resulted in a construction of a new questionnaire for
measuring self-regulation in the context of self-care. This was
followed by a project of rigorous verification of this instrument.
3.1 Sample
In this study, the analysis was based on several archived
datasets. Within these individual data collections respondents
completed
the Self-Care Self-Regulation Questionnaire
(SCSRQ), which was administered as a part of a larger
questionnaire set. In total, data from 777 respondents (328 males
and 449 females) were included in the analysis. The age of the
respondents ranged from 18 to 60 (mean 30.57, standard
deviation 14.57). The respondents were adult volunteers residing
in Košice, Spiš and Bratislava regions. In addition, 172 of the
respondents completed the Self-Control Scale and these data
were used for the purposes of correlation analyses.
3.2 Measures
Based on the presented theoretical background, the aim of this
study was to construct a new questionnaire for measuring self-
regulation in the context of self-care. The questionnaire was
named the Self-Care Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SCSRQ)
and the draft version of this questionnaire consisted of forty
items, which represented a range of self-care possibilities
regarding physical and psychological well-being. Each item was
rated on 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (not typical form me) to 5
(very much typical for me). The items measuring psychological
well-being and personal growth were inspired by the definitions
used for categories in Riff’s Scale of Psychological Well-Being
(Ryff, Keyes, 1995), as well as other sources. These items
covered domains such as: self-acceptance, positive relations with
others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life,
personal growth and emotion regulation. Three items for every
category were formulated to address both the activating as well
as the inhibiting component of self-care (e.g. “I try to develop
my potential”; “I try to suppress depressive thoughts”). Self-care
regarding health and physical well-being was measured by
sixteen items of the Self-care questionnaire (Lovaš, 2010) (e.g.
“I try to live healthily”; “I try to take care of my figure“; “I avoid
risky situations”).
The Self-Control Scale (SCS) (Tangney, Baumeister & Boone,
2004) was used for the purpose of correlation analysis with the
finalized SCSRQ factors. The SCS measures dispositional self-
control behaviors and consists of 36 items rated on a 5-point
scale, ranging from 1 (Not at all like me) to 5 (Very much like
me). The SCS has been adapted into the Slovak language and the
Slovak version of SCS (with one item excluded) was published
by Lovaš (2008). The Cronbach's alpha was of this questionnaire
was 0.86.
3.3 Statistical analyses
Exploratory factor analysis as well as all presented statistical
procedures were carried out using the SPSS 21.0 software.
4. Results
The raw questionnaire score was used in the analyses. The mean
score of the SCSRQ in the total sample was 138.94 (range 46-
179) with a standard deviation of 18.09. Internal consistency of
the scale proved to be adequate (Cranach’s alpha = 0.92).
4.1 Factor analysis
Guided by the scree-test and orthogonal varimax rotation four
robust factors were extracted explaining 50.6% of variance in
total. The individual factors explained variance as follows: factor
1: 17.4%, factor 2: 14.2%, factor 3: 10.5% and factor 4: 8.5%.
The item loadings of individual factors and the eigenvalues are
described in detail in Table 1. Eight items form the initial
versions of the questionnaire were withdrawn due to a low factor
loading (under 0.3).
Table 1 Factor structure of The Self-Care Self-Regulation
Questionnaire
As shown in Table 1, the first factor (F1) SCSRQ contains
fourteen items. Detailed analysis of their content showed that
individual items reflect self-regulation in terms of goal directed
behaviour and personal growth. These items addressed self-care
Items
F1
F2
F3
F4
13. I try to achieve my goals
0.69
14. I try to use my abilities
0.65
17. I try to be in charge of my life.
0.64
6. I try to develop my potential
0.63
20.
I try to improve my abilities/ I
work on my personal growth
0.62
12.
I try to use all the opportunities
that I get in my life
0.62
16. I try to be satisfied with myself
0.59
5. I try to live a meaningful life.
0.57
19.
I try to see my work in the
context of my future perspective
0.54
3.
In the first place, I try to rely on
myself.
0.52
4, I try to control my environment
0.52
18.
I try not to be controlled by the
pressures from the environment
0.51
11.
I try to do what is in line with my
principles
0.49
10.
I try to look for positive things
even in my failures
0.45
32. I try to take care of my figure
0.80
25. I try to have optimal weigh
0.74
30.
I try to do regular physical
activity
0.74
22. I try to take care of my condition
0.72
23. I regularly monitor my weigh
0.71
29. I try to have a healthy diet
0.67
24. I try to eat healthily
0.67
26. I try to live healthily
0.64
27. I try to look good
0.53
31. I try to suppress pessimism
0.74
7. I try to be in a positive mood
0.73
15. I try to have good mood
0.72
21.
I try to suppress depressive
thoughts
0.64
2. I am careful not to get injured
0.75
8. I am careful not to get ill
0.71
28. I avoid risky situation
0.68
9.
I make sure that I get a good
night sleep
0.50
1. I try to take core of my health
0.49
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