Multidimensional Self-Control Scale

PsycTESTS Citation:
Nilsen, F. A., Bang, H., Boe, O., Martinsen, Ø. L., Lang-Ree, O. C., & Røysamb, E. (2020).
Multidimensional Self-Control Scale [Database record]. Retrieved from PsycTESTS. doi:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t77740-000

Instrument Type:
Inventory/Questionnaire

Test Format:
Items are rated on a scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), and 34 were
false-keyed.

Source:
Nilsen, Fredrik A., Bang, Henning, Boe, Ole, Martinsen, Øyvind Lund, Lang-Ree, Ole Christian, &
Røysamb, Espen. (2020). The Multidimensional Self-Control Scale (MSCS): Development and
validation. Psychological Assessment, Vol 32(11), 1057-1074. doi:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/pas0000950

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Table S1

Copy of the Multi-Dimensional Self-Control Scale and the Brief Multi-Dimensional Self-
Control Scale, and Scoring Instructions

MSCS (α = .90)

Procrastinationa (α = .82)

1. I postpone thingsc
2. If there is something I should do, I get to it before attending to lesser tasks
3. I put things off for so long that my well-being or efficiency suffers unnecessarilyc
4. I spend my time wisely
5. I have a hard time to get startedc

Attentional Controla (α = .78).

6. It is hard for me to concentratec

7. I have a good ability to concentrate
8. I can concentrate, even with many disturbances
9. I can regulate my focus during a task
10. I have problems to stay focused on what is said during a talkc

Impulse Controla (α = .80)

11. Bodily impulses do sometimes have too much control over mec
12. I am easily disturbed by my impulsesc
13. Sometimes, it is hard to restrain myselfc
14. When I am confronted with an unwanted impulse, I have problems to stop thinking
about itc
15. I often act without thinking though other alternativesc

Emotional Controlb (α = .76)

16. I try to think about something else when an unpleasant thought is bothering me
17. When I feel sad, I try to think about something positive
18. When I feel down, I try to do something I like
19. If I get angry, I try to focus on something else
20. When I set a goal, I make concrete plans of how to reach it
Goal Orientationb (α = .78)

20. When I set a goal, I make concrete plans of how to reach it

21. I make plans for when, where, and how to reach my goals
22. I focus daily on my long-term goals
23. I know what I have to do to reach my goals

Self-Control Strategiesb (α = .72).

24. I try anything to get me started when I am uncertain of how to solve a task
25. When I feel stuck, I try to look at the situation from another perspective b
26. I try to conquer the fear if I do something scary
27. When it is hard to get started on a task, I try to find something to get me going
28. When it is hard to for me to concentrate on what I read, I try different ways of
increasing my concentration
29. I often look for new solutions by redefining the situation

a
Inhibition (α = .90); bInitiation (α = .84); cReversed item; Items are recommended to be sorted in mixed
order in scales (i.e., procrastination item 1, attentional control item 1, etc.).

BMSCS (α = .74)

1. I have a hard time to get starteda

2. I focus daily on my long-term goals
3. It is hard for me to concentratea
4. When I feel stuck, I try to look at the situation from another perspective
5. I put things off for so long that my well-being or efficiency suffers unnecessarilya
6. I know what I have to do to reach my goals
7. I am easily disturbed by my impulsesa
8. When I feel sad, I try to think about something positive
a
Reversed item

Responses for both scales are given on a Likert-scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to
5 (strongly agree).