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DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERCEIVED EMPLOYMENT BARRIER SCALE (PEBS): MEASURING PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF‐SUFFICIENCY
Author(s) -
Hong Philip Young P.,
Polanin Joshua R.,
Key Whitney,
Choi Sangmi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.585
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1520-6629
pISSN - 0090-4392
DOI - 10.1002/jcop.21646
Subject(s) - confirmatory factor analysis , structural equation modeling , exploratory factor analysis , psychology , scale (ratio) , test (biology) , social psychology , applied psychology , psychometrics , clinical psychology , statistics , mathematics , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
The purpose of this study is to (a) validate the psychometric properties of the Perceived Employment Barrier Scale (PEBS) and (b) investigate the effect of perceived barriers on employment hope. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and a series of invariance tests were conducted to validate PEBS using two independent samples. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationship. The latent factor structure generated by EFA failing to fit efficiently in CFA, the model was revised to a 5‐factor, 20‐item structure. This model demonstrated a common latent factor and item structure in both samples. And SEM results suggest a significant negative effect of perceived employment barriers on employment hope. PEBS is a reliable and valid measure that could be used as an evidence‐based tool for comprehensively assessing client‐centered employment barriers and providing appropriate support services to low‐income jobseekers.