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Restraint – Weinberger Adjustment Inventory
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About Restraint – Weinberger Adjustment Inventory
Scale Name
Restraint – Weinberger Adjustment Inventory
Author Details
Daniel A. Weinberger and Gary E. Schwartz
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Restraint scale, part of the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory (WAI), developed by Daniel A. Weinberger and Gary E. Schwartz in 1990, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure self-restraint, encompassing impulse control, suppression of aggression, consideration of others, and responsibility. The WAI assesses adjustment across emotional and behavioral domains, with the Restraint subscale focusing on the ability to regulate impulses and act prosocially. Published in Journal of Personality Assessment, the scale aligns with self-regulation theories (Baumeister et al., 1994) and is used to study adjustment in diverse populations, including adolescents and adults. It was validated in community and clinical samples, with applications in research on delinquency, substance use, and mental health.
The Restraint subscale comprises 30 items across four facets (7-8 items each): Impulse Control (e.g., “I often get into trouble because I don’t think before I act”), Suppression of Aggression (e.g., “I lose my temper easily”), Consideration of Others (e.g., “I try to consider other people’s feelings”), and Responsibility (e.g., “I keep my promises”). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “false” to 5 = “true”), with higher scores (range: 30-150) indicating greater self-restraint. The scale is suitable for adolescents (ages 12+) and adults, with strong psychometric properties making it ideal for assessing protective factors in high-risk youth.
Psychologists, clinicians, and researchers use the Restraint scale to evaluate self-regulation, inform interventions for behavioral issues, and study its role in mitigating risk behaviors. Its high reliability and comprehensive coverage are strengths, though its English-only primary use and length may limit accessibility in some settings.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the WAI Restraint subscale from primary sources, such as Weinberger and Schwartz (1990) in Journal of Personality Assessment or authorized archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses how they manage their actions and consider others to support personal development, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to rate each of the 30 items based on how true the statements are for them, using the 5-point scale.
- Approximate time for completion is 8-10 minutes, depending on reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, clinical, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for younger adolescents or those with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Restraint scale demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported by Weinberger and Schwartz (1990). Internal consistency is high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.92 for the full subscale (facet alphas: Impulse Control, 0.80; Suppression of Aggression, 0.83; Consideration of Others, 0.78; Responsibility, 0.81), indicating excellent item cohesion. Test-retest reliability over 6 months is robust (r = 0.76), reflecting stable measurement of self-restraint.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as impulsivity (r ≈ -0.50 to -0.70), prosocial behavior (r ≈ 0.40-0.60), and lower delinquency (r ≈ -0.30 to -0.50), consistent with self-regulation research (Farrell et al., 2011). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic aptitude (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict lower externalizing behaviors and better adjustment in clinical and community samples. Factor analyses confirm a four-facet structure, supporting construct validity. The high reliability and validity make it a robust tool for research and clinical use.
Available Versions
30-Items
Reference
Weinberger, D. A., & Schwartz, G. E. (1990). Distress and restraint as superordinate dimensions of self‐reported adjustment: A typological perspective. Journal of personality, 58(2), 381-417.
Farrell, A. D., Sullivan, T. N., Esposito, L. E., Meyer, A. L., & Valois, R. F. (2005). A latent growth curve analysis of the structure of aggression, drug use, and delinquent behaviors and their interrelations over time in urban and rural adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 15(2), 179-204.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Restraint scale measure?
It measures self-restraint, including impulse control, aggression suppression, consideration, and responsibility.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, clinicians, and researchers studying adjustment in adolescents and adults.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 8-10 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
No, it’s suitable for adolescents (12+) and adults across diverse settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies self-regulation strengths with high reliability.
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