Assessing the Problem-solving Appraisal of Black South African Students

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) as used with black South African students. Furthermore the construct validity of the PSI was assessed by comparing self-appraised effective and ineffective problem-solvers in terms of dispositional characteristics and psychological health. Subjects (N=212) were undergraduate psychology students at a South African University. The results indicated that: (1) the PSI was a reliable instrument for use with Black South African students, and (2) that self-appraised ineffective problem-solvers reported lower self-esteem and personal competence, and higher levels of depression and anxiety than self-appraised effective problem-solvers.