Structure of the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory Self-Restraint scale and its relation to problem behaviors in adolescence

The authors examined the structure of the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory ( WAI) Self-Restraint scale in derivation (n = 1,286) and cross-validation (n = 1,154) samples of mostly African American 6th graders in 3 urban schools . Four models were compared: (a) a 1-factor model; (b) a hierarchical model in which factors representing Impulse Control, Suppression of Aggression, Responsibility, and Consideration of Others were subsumed by a higher order factor; (c) a model that represented these 4 factors as correlated but dis tinct constructs; and (d) a model that excluded Consideration of Others fro m the higher order factor. Consistent support was found for the last model based on confirmatory factor analyses and latent-variable analyses examinin g the relations among self-restraint scales, drug use, delinquency, and agg ression. These findings have implications for using the WAI, particularly i n studies of adolescent problem behaviors.