Academic self-efficacy as a resilience factor among adjudicated girls

Abstract

This study focuses on understanding learning disabilities (LDs) as a non-specific risk factor for delinquency among adolescent at-risk girls and investigates academic, social and emotional self-efficacy of adolescent girls with and without LDs in three educational settings: youth protection authority facilities (YPA), special education (SE) and general education (GE). In addition to self-efficacy variables, the study also gathered emotional-behavioural data. The sample included 46 girls adjudicated in YPA facilities, 31 with LDs, and 15 without LDs, 7 girls placed in SE settings due to their LDs, 23 girls attending GE settings, 14 with LDs, and 9 without LDs. Non-parametric analysis indicated that GE girls without LDs had the highest general and academic self-efficacy beliefs compared to all other research groups. YPA girls with LDs had the lowest general self-efficacy beliefs among research groups, and SE girls had the lowest academic self-efficacy. Regression analyses indicated LDs as main effect variable predicting all types of self-efficacy, except emotional self-efficacy beliefs. SES, institution type and anxiety were also frequent variables predicting variations in self-efficacy beliefs. Reasonable academic self-efficacy beliefs found among adjudicated girls with LDs can indicate academic self-efficacy as an achievable resilience factor, especially when working with at-risk girls suffering LDs.