Mastery

Title

Pearlin Mastery Scale

Study

PMBC

Copyright Information

Available in the public domain

Primary Reference

Pearlin, L. I., & Schooler, C. (1978). The structure of coping. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 19, 2-21.

Purpose

To assess the extent to which the individuals generally feel as though they manifest personal mastery over important life outcomes.

Type of Measure

Established

Description

Participants are asked to rate how much they agree or disagree with self-descriptive sentences. No time frame or referent period is used.

Scaling

1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Agree, 4 = Strongly Agree

Number of Items

7

Sample Items

• I have little control over the things that happen to me. (reversed)
• What happens to me in the future mostly depends on me.

Psychometrics

Internal Consistency Reliability in PMBC: alpha=0.72

Scoring

Sum items 1R, 2R, 3R, 4, 5R, 6, &7R

Variables

Total Score