PSYCHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF REVISED SOCIOTROPY AND AUTONOMY SCALES IN COLLEGE-STUDENTS

Beck, Epstein, Harrison and Emery (unpublished manuscript, 1983) devel oped the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale (SAS) to assess personality constru cts that were considered possible vulnerability factors to reactive de pression. Principal components and factor analyses of an expanded 93-i tem version of the SAS were performed with successive samples of under graduates totalling 2041 Ss. Only 59 items were needed to establish th e generalizabilities of one dimension of Sociotropy and two dimensions of Autonomy. Three subscales reflecting Sociotropy, Solitude and Inde pendence were constructed from these items. The convergent and discrim inant validities of the three subscales were assessed with respect to a variety of other psychological tests. The overall pattern of relatio nships indicated that Solitude was positively correlated with dysphori a, perfectionism, self-criticalness, and loneliness. In contrast, Inde pendence was positively correlated with perfectionism and self-efficac y, but inversely related to concern about approval from others. Sociot ropy was correlated with dependency, self criticalness, and affiliatio n motivation. The findings supported the construct validity of the thr ee revised SAS subscales.