Defining psychological empowerment construct: analysis of three empowerment scales

This study aimed to contribute to the validation of psychological empowerment, which is a combination of sense of control (intrapersonal component), critical awareness of the sociopolitical environment (interactional component), and community involvement (behavioral component). Three scales of empowerment used to evaluate the 3 components were translated into Portuguese, adapted for the Portuguese population, and applied in person, by phone and by e-mail. Participants were enrolled in or had completed a program of recognition of prior learning. We tested reflective and formative measurement models and the results suggested that a reflective model fits the data better than a formative one. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed psychological empowerment as a hierarchical third-order factor. Second-order factors correspond to the intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral empowerment components, reflected in first-order factors: leadership competence, policy control, source of power, nature of power, instruments of power, and participation behaviors.