NCJ Number
217799
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 30 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2007 Pages: 63-79
Date Published
February 2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This investigation examined the validity and reliability of the psychosocial inventory of ego strengths (PIES) among high school students.
Abstract
Based on the findings of this study, the psychosocial inventory of ego strengths (PIES) is recommended for use with high school age adolescents. However, additional research is needed to determine the reliability and validity of the measure for even younger adolescents. Reliability of the PIES was through acceptable to very good Cronbach’s alphas for the PIES and its subscales. As expected, higher scores on ego strengths were positively correlated with psychosocial indictors of identity achievement, self-esteem, locus of control, empathic concern, perspective-taking, and positive forms of coping. Lower scores on ego strengths were related to less desirable psychosocial constructs. Ego strengths are defined as “certain qualities which begin to animate man pervasively during successive stages of his life.” However, measurement of the ego strengths has been overlooked in the literature. In response, the PIES was developed as a self-report measure of Erikson’s eight ego strengths (hope, will, purpose, competence, fidelity, love, care, and wisdom), and was shown to possess validity and reliability among university students. The purposes of this study were to demonstrate the theoretical coherence of Erikson’s ego strengths according to their performance as indices of psychosocial adjustment and maturity, to assess the validity and reliability of the PIES for use among high school age adolescents, and to present previously unreported descriptive statistics on the PIES according to both university and high school samples. Tables, references