General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)
The ten-item General Self-Efficacy Scale reflects beliefs about coping with difficult demands. Answers form a 10–40 score; there is no universal high-or-low cutoff.
Evidence passport
Instrument and scoring
- Scientific name
- General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE)
- NuraCheck implementation version
- 1.0.0
- Scoring method
- Published sum score
- Score shown
- Overall score and dimensions
- Primary reference
- Schwarzer R, Jerusalem M. Generalized Self-Efficacy scale. In: Weinman J, Wright S, Johnston M, eds. Measures in Health Psychology: A User’s Portfolio. 1995:35–37. Open publication
- Published scoring source
- No separate source is recorded for this field.
- Exact form or administration source
- No separate source is recorded for this field.
Who and where the evidence may apply
Evidence comes from particular studies and language versions, so its relevance can vary.
- Intended audience
- Adults reflecting on their general confidence in handling difficult or unexpected situations.
- Language version shown
- English (en) · Base wording used by this NuraCheck implementation
- Study participants and settings
- A later cross-cultural report pooled 19,719 participants from 26 countries, aged 12 to 94 (mean 25.1); 7,415 identified as male, 9,624 as female and 2,680 did not report gender. Country samples and recruitment methods differed, so a global average may not describe an individual setting.
Review the study used for these details
Scores do not capture culture, minority stress, disability or barriers to support. These factors can shape responses.
The evidence cannot determine whether a questionnaire fits you personally. NuraCheck does not ask for or infer identity to decide this.
Language provenance
- Language version shown
- English (en) · Base wording used by this NuraCheck implementation
- Wording scope
- Full instrument
- Independent language review
- Not recorded separately for the base wording
Base-wording source recorded by NuraCheck
Language provenance and independent validation are different. NuraCheck does not infer a reviewer or review date when the evidence record does not name one.
Licence and permitted use
- Licence status
- Permission granted
- Rights holder or steward
- Ralf Schwarzer and Matthias Jerusalem
- Permission record checked
- Jul 14, 2026
- Electronic use
- Allowed by the reviewed permission record
- Translation
- Allowed by the reviewed permission record
General Self-Efficacy Scale by Ralf Schwarzer and Matthias Jerusalem; used with attribution under the documented permission terms.
What this questionnaire cannot answer
The GSE describes a broad belief, not ability in a particular situation. Context can affect the score; it does not measure worth or competence.
What your result can show
Higher scores reflect stronger self-reported coping confidence; there is no diagnostic or universal high-or-low threshold.
Important limitations
The GSE describes a broad belief, not ability in a particular situation. Context can affect the score; it does not measure worth or competence.