The Self-Access Form

Abstract

Abstract. Different lines of research suggest that individuals differ in accessing self-referential information, that is, to know who they are, what they think, want, need, or feel, and that this construct is positively associated with emotion regulation, adaptive functioning, well-being, and meaning in life. We developed a brief scale of five items, the Self-Access Form (SAF) and conducted four studies to approve its validity with respect to markers of adaptive personality functioning and health. Study 1 shows a clear, unidimensional factor structure for the SAF. Self-access correlates positively with adaptive self- and emotion regulation, as well as with psychological and physical health, but does not correlate with private self-consciousness (Study 2). Additionally, self-access is positively related to self-complexity and self-integration as two markers of adaptive self-development (Study 3). It is also inversely related to self-infiltration, that is, the misconception of other individuals’ expectations as own goals (Study 4). We conclude that self-access can validly be measured by a brief scale and positively relates to adaptive functioning and health.