Four studies, involving 314 middle-aged and older adults were conducted to develop and
validate the Occupational Self-Efficacy Index (OSEI). The OSEI assesses adults' beliefs (in the
latter half of their working life) in their continued ability to learn, adapt, and be productive in
a changing workplace. OSEI scores reflect three factors: Performance Ability, Learning Ability,
and Organizational Skills. The instrument is reliable (alpha = .94). Evidence of construct validity
included positive conelations with general self-efficacy, intrinsic job motivation, a history of
previous job successes, retirement income sufficiency, health status, and a negative correlation
with job stress.
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