Assessing generalization in perceived self-efficacy: Multidomain and global assessments of the effects of self-defense training for women

The authors assessed the impact of self-defense training for women on multi faceted aspects of perceived self-efficacy. As compared to a waiting list c ontrol condition, training increased se efficacy perceptions not only for s elf-defense-skills but also across a Variety of domains, including self-def ense abilities, sports competencies, and coping skills. Trained participant s also experienced a significant increase in more global aspects of persona lity, including perceptions of physical self-efficacy and assertiveness. No changes were detected on a trait measure of global self-efficacy; however there was a significant change on a composite score of a multidomain self-e fficacy questionnaire and on several domain-specific subscales, indicating that trained participants experienced a boost in multiple domains of self-e fficacy not directly tapped by the intervention. Implications for construct ing more sensitive measures of coping skills generalization effects are dis cussed.