Validation of the Low Self-Control Scale Spanish Version: a bifactor model approach

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• The General Theory of Crime posits low self-control as a primary driver of criminal behavior.
• The Low Self-Control Scale (LSCS) is a widely used instrument to measure this construct.
• Existing debate surrounds the dimensionality of self-control and the LSCS's psychometric adequacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Low Self-Control Scale (LSCS) in a sample of Argentine adolescents.
• To investigate the factor structure and reliability of the LSCS.
• To examine the criterion validity of the LSCS in relation to deviant behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to assess the scale's structure.
• Internal consistency was evaluated using established reliability indexes.
• Criterion validity was tested by correlating LSCS subscales with different forms of deviance.

Main Results:

• Confirmatory factor analysis supported a bifactor structure, indicating a general self-control factor and specific elements.
• The LSCS demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency for both total and subscale scores.
• Risk-seeking and self-centered subscales showed significant associations with deviance, comparable to the total scale.

Conclusions:

• The LSCS exhibits robust psychometric properties in the studied adolescent population.
• The bifactor structure provides evidence for both a general self-control trait and its specific dimensions.
• Findings support the LSCS's utility in both research and professional applications for assessing self-control in adolescents.