Abstract. Background: To date there is no standardized scale for the evaluation of self-efficacy of gatekeeper skills. Aim: The aim of this study was to develop the Gatekeeper Self-Efficacy Scale (GKSES), which consists of nine items assessing laypersons' confidence in their own gatekeeper skills, and to confirm its reliability and validity. Method: Altogether 875 participants joined in gatekeeper training between 2010 and 2017 and completed the GKSES both before and after training. After exploratory factor analysis, we analyzed Pearson's correlation between total GKSES scores and Attitude Toward Suicide Scale subscale scores and performed one-way analysis of variance for the score differences by demographics. Results: The GKSES is a univariate scale with good fit. Total GKSES score correlated with the appropriate attitudes for suicide prevention. Self-efficacy ratings after training improved irrespective of attribute. Participants who had had contact with suicidal individuals and those who had received previous suicide prevention training had high self-efficacy ratings, while a greater improvement was seen in the ratings of participants who had not had any previous contact or training. Limitations: It is necessary to assess the GKSES using more participants across other populations. Conclusion: The GKSES is a simple and useful measure with good internal consistency and validity for self-efficacy assessment of gatekeeper skills.
Crisis. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000698. © 2020 Hogrefe Publishing.
Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Self-Efficacy Scale (GKSES)
A Psychometric Investigation With a Japanese Sample
Asumi Takahashi Related information
1Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan
, Hirokazu Tachikawa Related information2Department of Disaster and Community Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan
, Nobuaki Morita Related information3Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan
, Miyuki Aiba Related information4Faculty of Human Sciences, Toyo Gakuen University, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
, Yuki Shiratori Related information5Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan
, Kiyotaka Nemoto Related information5Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan
, and Tetsuaki Arai Related information5Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba City, Japan
Received: January 8, 2019
Revised: January 21, 2020
Accepted: February 1, 2020
Published online: July 16, 2020
Abstract
Keywords: suicide prevention, gatekeeper, Gatekeeper Self-Efficacy Scale
Crisis
ISSN: 0227-5910; eISSN: 2151-2396


