Abstract
The validity and the reliability of the Sense of Authenticity Scale (SOAS), as well as the effects of the sense of authenticity on the stress-response and on stress-coping were examined. Japanese university students (N=280) completed the SOAS, Ego-Identity Inventory, Stress-response scale, and Stress-coping scale. Results indicated that the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was sufficiently high to support the reliability of the SOAS. The fit indices of confirmatory factor analysis of SOAS scores were also significantly high, indicating its cross-validity. The Results of structural equation modeling indicated that the sense of authenticity reduced depressive-anxious feelings, physical responses, and cognition-thought of helplessness, while ego-identity reduced only cognition-thought of helplessness. The results of an analysis of variance indicated that the effects of stress-copings on stress-responses were partly mediated by the degree of the sense of authenticity. These results suggest that the sense of authenticity is an important factor in human well-being.
