Self-Efficacy and Locus of Control When Facing Listening Challenges: Validation of the Listening Challenges Attitude Scale (LiCAS)

Listening challenges can profoundly influence individuals’ beliefs about their ability to process auditory information, particularly in terms of Self-Efficacy (SE) and Locus of Control (LoC). These constructs are central in motivational and health psychology frameworks, yet no dedicated instrument is available to assess them in the auditory domain. The present study introduces and preliminarily validates the Listening Challenges Attitude Scale (LiCAS), a self-report measure designed to capture two SE dimensions, namely confidence in Easy (five items) and Hard (four items) listening conditions, and two LoC dimensions, namely Hearing Loss Likelihood (LoC-HLL; six items) and Control over Hearing Loss (LoC-CHL; three items). Data collected from 358 respondents supported its reliability, construct validity (convergent and discriminant), scalar invariance across younger and older groups, and criterion-related validity, as indicated by significant latent mean differences between younger and older groups. Evidence for nomological validity, particularly in relation to locus of control (LoC), was mixed, highlighting the need for further research. Overall, the LiCAS emerges as a brief and psychometrically sound tool to investigate metacognitive beliefs about listening, with potential applications in both research and clinical practice.