Efficacy of Personality Development Program on Self-Efficacy of College Students

Abstract

Universities and Colleges are nowadays implementing soft skills training program apart from imparting core subject knowledge, to improve the Employability skills of their students. Classroom misfortunes, conflicts with peers, and failures in love can make college a breeding ground for self-esteem issues, which ultimately affects their academic performance and well-being. Self-efficacy has emerged as a highly effective predictor of students’ motivation and learning (Zimmerman, 2008). Personality development is a potential intervention tool which helps an individual to gain confidence and improved self-efficacy. Personality Development is just not outer physical looks, but it also includes grooming one’s inner self to bring about a positive change in one’s life. The present study examined the impact of personality development training program on self-efficacy of 150 male (N=58) and female (N=86) post graduate college students. The study also evaluated the training program, by administering quantitative feedback about the program after the completion of the program. The study used one group Pre-test, Post-test research method. The age group of the sample ranged from 19-23 years and they were all single. They belonged to both Science and Arts stream. The sample was assessed on their self-efficacy by using General Self-Efficacy scale by Schwarzer & Jerusalem (1995). Data were collected at 2 time periods i.e. before the training and a week after completion of training. The personality development program with relevant modules was conducted by trained psychologist over a period of continuous 15 weeks (one 2 hour session/week). 150 students participated in 5 batches for the personality development program. 6 students did not fill the questionnaire properly, hence deleted from the research. The 144 data were statistically analyzed using Percentage analysis, t-test, and qualitative analysis. The results showed that the personality development program improved the self-efficacy among college students. Moreover, the intervention did not have any impact on gender and stream of education of college students. However, the results may only be indicative, as there is no control group in the present study. Overall, the Personality development program was found to be effective in improving self-efficacy of students and was well received by them.