Internal and external self-affirmation resources: validation and assessment of psychometric properties of the spontaneous self-affirmation measure using structural equation modeling

Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 15, pp. 1217416

Abstract

Introduction People use coping strategies such as self-affirmation to manage threats to their self-esteem. In empirical research, self-affirmation often involves recalling personal values, strengths, or relationships to restore moral integrity. Research shows it improves attitude adjustment, resolves cognitive dissonance, and enhances well-being. Some studies stress the importance of distinguishing between different aspects of self-affirmation, like strengths or social relations. These aspects align with concepts in psychotherapy that differentiate between internal and external resource activation, benefiting health, self-esteem, and resilience. The aim of the current study was twofold: first, to independently test the three-factor structure of the Spontaneous Self-affirmation Measure (SSAM), and second, to integrate self-affirmation strategies into a broader resource activation framework as resilience factors. It also examined associations with self-esteem and effects of age, gender, and education on spontaneous self-affirmation. Methods 1,100 participants (72% female, age 18–65) were recruited online. The original three-factor structure of the SSAM (with the factors Strengths, Values and Social relations) was examined using structural equation modeling. Further, a theory driven two-factor structure applying an internal and external resources framework was examined, integrating the factors of the SSAM into the taxonomy of resource activation (Internal resources: Strengths and Values; External resources: Social relations). Results The results of confirmatory factor analyses showed that both the original three-factor structure and the complementary two-factor structure with an Internal resources and External resources factor fit the data appropriately. All three factors of the original factor model showed a high reliability (Strengths: ωt = 0.91, Values: ωt = 0.91, Social relations: ωt = 0.92). We also found measurement invariance across age, gender, and education. Furthermore, group differences regarding gender, education and ethnicity in the utilization of spontaneous self-affirmation strategies were apparent. Finally, it was demonstrated that the Internal resources factor of the complementary two-factor model is significantly more strongly correlated with self-esteem than the External Resources factor [z = 12.80, p < 0.001, 95%CIdiff (0.24, 0.33)]. Discussion The study confirms the validity of both the three-factor and two-factor structures of the SSAM. Integrating self-affirmation into the resource activation framework may facilitate applying findings from self-affirmation studies to clinical contexts.

Authors 6

1. Lena Rader corresponding Aachen Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany

2. Siegfried Gauggel Aachen Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany

3. Barbara Drueke Aachen Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany

4. Lorenz Weise Aachen Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany

5. Saskia Doreen Forster Aachen Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany

6. Verena Mainz Aachen Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany

   Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany