Levels Of General Self-efficacy Research Articles

The Role of University Students’ General Self-Efficacy, Depression and Psychological Well-being in Predicting Their Exercise Behavior

The aim of this research is to examine the relationship between exercise and general self-efficacy, depression, and psychological well-being of college students. Five hundred and twenty-two university students (nmale= 273; Xage= 23.33±4.36 and nfemale= 279; Xage=25.91±7.11) have participated in this research. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Physical Activity Stages of Change Questionnaire (PASCQ), and “Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS) have been applied to the sample group in this study. While differences in participants’ self-efficacy, depression, and psychological well-being levels with regard to the stage of changes in exercise are calculated with one way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the relationship between these ideas discussed in the research have been determined with Pearson Moments Product Correlation Analysis. According to the stages of exercise behavior, significant disparities have been found between participants’ level of self-efficacy, depression, and psychological well-being, and the relationship between those notions has been observed. According to the results, the participants’ general self-efficacy and psychological well-being levels were high and the depression levels were low when on advanced levels of exercise. In light of the findings obtained from this research, it has been concluded that continuity in exercise has a positive effect on psychological effects like general self-efficacy, depression and psychological well-being.

Perceived sources and levels of stress, general self-efficacy and coping strategies in clinical dental students

The aims of this study were to identify sources of stress among clinical students and to evaluate the students’ perceived levels of stress, general self-efficacy and effective coping strategies in a private dental school environment. The study group consisted of 130 undergraduate clinical dental students in a Turkish private dental school, during the academic year 2014–2015. The students were surveyed using modified version of the dental environment stress (DES) survey, the perceived stress scale, the general self-efficacy scale (G-SES) and the brief coping scale. Age, sex, year of study, history of psychiatric treatment and factors that affected the choice of dentistry were also recorded. Final year and female clinical dental students, who were found to be the most stressful students, had moderate to high perceived stress scores. Total and ‘Faculty and administration’ related DES scores increased with the year of study. Stressors related to ‘Workload’ and ‘Clinical training’ affected females more than males. G-SES scores were higher in male students and students, who had no history of psychiatric treatment. The most and the least common coping strategies were ‘Planning’ and ‘Substance abuse’, respectively. ‘Religion’ was found to be one of the main coping strategies. Stress factors affecting Turkish clinical dental students studying at private dental school differed from the previously reported stress factors affecting students studying at a governmental dental school. Advanced year and female students experienced more stress than the other students.

General self-efficacy level and health behaviours in women over the age of 45 years who have undergone osteoporosis treatment.

IntroductionContemporary people do not follow the civilisation development in every life domain, their lifestyle is not always healthy. Self-efficacy is the factor that plays an important role in undertaking actions towards struggling with the disease.The aim of the studyThe aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the general self-efficacy level and health behaviours as well as chosen sociodemographic features in women over the age of 45 years who have undergone osteoporosis treatment.Material and methodsThe study comprised 151 women over the age of 45 years. The research was conducted in 2016 in health care centres in Lublin, a city in south-eastern Poland. The Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) by R. Schwarzer, M. Jerusalem and Z. Juczyński and an original questionnaire were used as research tools. The obtained material was subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis. χ2 test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney Test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were all applied.ResultsThe analysis of obtained results showed that as much as 73.5% of the respondents showed very low and low generalised self-efficacy level. On the other hand, only 22.5% of the examined were characterised by high and very high generalised self-efficacy level. The longer the duration of osteoporosis treatment (rho = 0.251; p = 0.002) and the better the self-estimation of health status (rho = 0.473; p = 0.000), the higher the respondents’ generalised self-efficacy level. The women’s self-efficacy level declined with increasing ailments (rho = –0.190; p = 0.019).ConclusionsThe generalized self-efficacy level and the health behaviours are not satisfactory.

大学生人际归因与一般自我效能感的特点及关系

目的：调查大学生人际归因与一般自我效能感的状况并考察其关系。结论：(1) 大学生人际归因的一般趋势倾向于内归因，且一般自我效能感水平较高。(2) 大学生人际归因总分性别差异显著，内归因和失败归因性别差异显著；一般自我效能感性别差异显著。(3) 大学生人际归因年级差异显著，且不同维度不同年级差异显著不同；一般自我效能感年级差异不显著。(4) 大学生人际归因总分与一般自我效能感之间呈显著负相关，大学生人际关系内归因、成功归因与一般自我效能感之间呈显著正相关，大学生人际关系外归因、失败归因与一般自我效能感之间相关不显著。 Object: To investigate the status of interpersonal attribution and general self-efficacy of college students and explore the relationship between them. Conclusions: (1) Generally, college students attributed interpersonal relationship to internal reason and the level of general self-efficacy was higher. (2) There was a significant gender difference in total score of interpersonal attribution, internal and failing attribution, and general self-efficacy. (3) There was a significant grade difference in interpersonal attribution of college students and analysis showed the grade difference varied in different dimensions; the grade difference of general self-efficacy was not significant. (4) There was a significant negative correlation between total score of interpersonal attribution and general self-efficacy; the internal attribution and successful attribution had significant positive correlation with general self-efficacy respectively, while external and failing attribution had no significant correlation with general self-efficacy.

General Self-Efficacy and Psychological Resilience Promote Skill Acquisition Rate Under Psychological Pressure

This study extends the limited body of research exploring the association between psychological resources and performance under pressure. It was anticipated that participants’ general self-efficacy and resilience would positively influence skill acquisition rate more under high pressure, than low pressure. Eighty-one undergraduate students (Mage = 22.93; SD = 7.53; 50.6% female) participated in a learning task: to fly a flight simulator. The within-subjects variable was the participant's ability to steadily control the aircraft roll across six trials. Psychological pressure was manipulated between-subjects and general self-efficacy and resilience were measured moderator variables. Findings indicated that under high pressure, higher levels of general self-efficacy and perceived resilience predicted faster initial skill acquisition compared to those with lower levels of these resources. In contrast, in the low-pressure condition, the skill acquisition rate was the same irrespective of psychological resources. This research highlights the importance of psychological resources in pressured training contexts.

Factors Distinguishing Positive Deviance Among Low-Income African American Women: A Qualitative Study on Infant Feeding.

Positive deviant individuals practice beneficial behaviors in spite of having qualities characterizing them as high risk for unhealthy behaviors. This study aimed to identify and understand factors distinguishing low-income African American women who breastfeed the longest (positive deviants) from those who breastfeed for a shorter duration or do not breastfeed. Seven mini-focus groups on infant-feeding attitudes and experiences were conducted with 25 low-income African American women, grouped by infant-feeding practice. Positive deviants, who had breastfed for 4 months or more, were compared with formula-feeding participants who had only formula fed their babies and short-term breastfeeding participants who had breastfed for 3 months or less. Positive deviant women had more schooling, higher income, breastfeeding intention, positive breastfeeding and unfavorable formula-feeding attitudes, higher self-efficacy, positive hospital and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children experiences, more exclusive breastfeeding, and greater comfort breastfeeding in public. Short-term breastfeeding women varied in breastfeeding intention and self-efficacy, seemed to receive insufficient professional breastfeeding support, and supplemented breastfeeding with formula. Some showed ambivalence, concern with unhealthy behaviors, and discomfort with breastfeeding in public. Formula-feeding women intended to formula feed, feared breastfeeding, thought their behaviors were incompatible with breastfeeding, were comfortable with and found formula convenient, and received strong support to formula feed. Tapping into the strengths of positive deviants; tailoring interventions to levels of general and breastfeeding self-efficacy; increasing social, institutional, and community supports; and removing inappropriate formula promotion may offer promising strategies to increase breastfeeding among low-income African American women.

Prevalence and associated positive psychological variables of anxiety and depression among patients with central nervous system tumors in China: a cross-sectional study.

Anxiety and depression have been identified as common psychological distresses faced by the majority of patients with cancer. However, no studies have investigated the relationship between positive psychological variables (hope, optimism and general self-efficacy) and anxiety and depression among patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors in China. Our hypothesis is that the patients with higher levels of hope, optimism or general self-efficacy have lower levels of anxiety and depression when encountered by stressful life events such as CNS tumors. Questionnaires, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Herth Hope Index, the Life Orientation Scale-Revised and the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and demographic and clinical records were used to collect information about patients with CNS tumors in Liaoning Province, China. The study included 222 patients (effective response rate: 66.1%). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were performed to explore the associations among hope, optimism, general self-efficacy and anxiety/depression. Prevalence of anxiety and depression were 42.8 and 32.4%, respectively, among patients with CNS tumors. Hope and optimism both were negatively associated with anxiety and together accounted for 21.4% of variance in anxiety. Similarly, hope and optimism both were negatively associated with depression and accounted for 32.4% of variance in depression. The high prevalence of anxiety and depression among patients with CNS tumors should receive more attention in Chinese medical settings. To help reduce anxiety and depression, health care professionals should develop interventions to promote hope and optimism based on patients' specific needs.

General self-efficacy and posttraumatic stress after a natural disaster: a longitudinal study.

BackgroundSelf-efficacy may be an important factor in individuals’ recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions after a natural disaster. However, few longitudinal studies have investigated whether self-efficacy predicts the course of posttraumatic recovery beyond lower initial levels of distress. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether general self-efficacy is related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions from a longitudinal perspective.MethodsA total of 617 Norwegians exposed to the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami completed self-report questionnaires measuring their level of disaster exposure and general self-efficacy at 6 months and posttraumatic stress reactions 6 months and 2 years post-disaster. Predictors of changes in posttraumatic stress reactions were analyzed with multivariate mixed effects models.ResultsSelf-efficacy at 6 months post-disaster was unrelated to trauma exposure and inversely related to posttraumatic stress reactions at 6 months and 2 years post-disaster. However, self-efficacy was not related to recovery from posttraumatic stress reactions between 6 months and 2 years post-disaster.ConclusionsIn conclusion, general self-efficacy is related to lower levels of posttraumatic stress reactions in the first months after a disaster but does not appear to be related to improved recovery rates over the longer term.

Influence of upper limb disability, manual dexterity and fine motor skill on general self-efficacy in institutionalized elderly with osteoarthritis

Study designDescriptive, cross-sectional. IntroductionThe impact of upper limb (UL) disability, dexterity and fine motor skill on self-efficacy in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA) is not well known yet. Purposes of the studyTo evaluate the self-efficacy and its relationship with UL function/disability in institutionalized OA. MethodsInstitutionalized adults (n = 45) over the age of 65 years with OA were evaluated in a single session, to determine pinch strength, active range of motion of the hand and UL disability and functionality. They were classified as self-efficacious or not based on their general self-efficacy level. The influence on self-efficacy on upper limb function was statistically analyzed using bivariate and multivariate regression analyses. ResultsSelf-effective older adults showed significantly lower scores in disability and higher scores in pinch strength, dexterity and motion of thumb than those who were classified as non-self-effective. Self-efficacy was associated with pinch strength (p ≤ 0.038), disability (p < 0.001) and dexterity (p ≤ 0.048). Multiple regression analyses showed that disability explained almost 40% of the variability of self-efficacy. ConclusionsOlder adults classified as non-self-effective have higher UL disability and less pinch strength, manual dexterity and thumb motion than those who are self-effective, suggesting a relationship between impairment and perceived ability. Level of evidence3a.

Relationship between attitude to death and general self-efficacy of nursing students

Objective To study the relationship between attitude to death and general self-efficacy of nursing students. Methods 1 057 nursing college students from a university in Xi'an were surveyed by the questionnaires. Results There existed positive relationship between natural acceptance dimention of death attitude and self-efficacy. The relationship between escape acceptance dimention of death attitude and general self-efficacy was negative. Conclusions It is helpful to develop a positive attitude to death of nursing college students by raising the level of general self-efficacy. Key words: Nursing students; Attitude to death; General self-efficacy; Relationship

ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛЬНАЯ ПЛАСТИЧНОСТЬ В СТРУКТУРЕ ИНТЕГРАЛЬНОЙ ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНОСТИ У СТУДЕНТОВ С РАЗНЫМ УРОВНЕМ ОБЩЕЙ САМОЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ

ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛЬНАЯ ПЛАСТИЧНОСТЬ В СТРУКТУРЕ ИНТЕГРАЛЬНОЙ ИНДИВИДУАЛЬНОСТИ У СТУДЕНТОВ С РАЗНЫМ УРОВНЕМ ОБЩЕЙ САМОЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ

Relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and achievement motivation in student nurses

Abstract Objective To investigate general self-efficacy levels and to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and achievement motivation in student nurses in China. Methods A total of 716 student nurses were enrolled in this study from 7 hospitals in western China. Data were collected using three scales: General Data Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) and Achievement Motivation Scale (AMS). There were 566 valid questionnaires. Results The mean general self-efficacy scores of the student nurses were low. There was a significantly positive relationship between self-efficacy and achievement motivation ( r = 0.432, p = 0.000). Conclusions Our findings suggested that self-efficacy was related to age and educational levels, rather than gender and place of residence. Nursing managers should take measures to develop the self-efficacy of student nurses; when self-efficacy is developed, the achievement motivation may then be improved. Achievement motivation may also be improved through the improvement of self-efficacy.

Intense piano training on self-efficacy and physiological stress in aging.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an intense piano training program on general self-efficacy, musical self-efficacy, and physiological stress in older adults. Self-efficacy refers to perceived beliefs regarding the performance of domain-specific tasks or activities, which contribute to psychological and physical health. A key challenge is to identify activities that promote self-efficacy in the aging population. Seventeen healthy community-dwelling older adults (60-85 years) with little to no previous musical training participated in a within subjects experimental design. Measures of self-efficacy and cortisol levels were administered over three time points: an initial pre-testing session, a second pre-testing following a two-week no treatment control period, and a post-testing session upon the completion of piano training. Intense piano training consisted of 30 hours of training (3 hours per day) in which high levels of achievement were required. Results of a three-way Repeated Measures ANOVA over all time points with pairwise comparisons revealed significantly (p < .05) enhanced musical self-efficacy post-training, F (2, 32) = 11.5, p < .001, d = .79. No significant changes in general self-efficacy or cortisol levels were found. These results suggest that domain-specific self-efficacy may increase as a result of short-term intense music training; however, short-term music training may not be sufficient to transfer to general self-efficacy.

Pre-service teachers' self-efficacy perceptions on Web Pedagogical Content Knowledge

21st century classrooms call for teachers to integrate technology into their instructional practices. This requires the ability and willingness to combine technological, pedagogical and content knowledge. The main purpose of this study is to investigate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pre-service teachers' perceptions of their self-efficacy regarding Web Pedagogical Content Knowledge (W-PCK) and attitudes towards web-based instruction. Turkish adapted version of W-PCK scale (Horzum, 2011) originally developed by Lee and Tsai (2010) was used as the data collection instrument. The survey was administered to 120 EFL pre-service teachers studying at a Turkish state university. The results showed that pre-service EFL teachers attained high scores on the Web-general knowledge and Web Pedagogical Knowledge subscales while lower scores were measured in Web Communicative and Web Pedagogical Content Knowledge sub-scales. The participants' level of general self-efficacy regarding W-PCK was positively correlated with their attitudes towards Web-based instruction. No significant gender or year level differences were observed.

General and Realm-Specific Self-Efficacy: Connections to Life Functioning

This project examined how the synthesis of general and realm specific self-efficacy is related to life functioning. In two studies 760 participants provided information on their levels of general self-efficacy, specific self-efficacy in the realms of positive affect, sleep, exercise and study, and quality of functioning in these realms. Higher general self-efficacy was significantly associated with realm specific self-efficacy across the realms of positive affect, sleep, study, and exercise. Both higher general self-efficacy and higher realm-specific self efficacy were associated with positive affect, quality of sleep and study skills. Realm-specific self-efficacy mediated the relationships between general self-efficacy and functioning in the realms of positive affect, sleep, and study. Structural equation modeling indicated paths from general self-efficacy to latent variables comprised of realm-specific self-efficacy. Different types of realm-specific self-efficacy together contributed to explaining variance in general self-efficacy. The results provide support for a hierarchical model of self-efficacy. The findings provide a platform for future longitudinal research and experimental intervention research examining the causal inter-relationships of general self-efficacy, realm-specific self-efficacy, and functioning.

Constructive handling of mistakes in the classroom: The conjoint power of collaborative networks and self-efficacy beliefs

Constructive handling of mistakes enhances successful learning and involves an affective and a cognitive dimension: (a) low fear of making mistakes (FOM) and (b) high positive learning orientation towards mistakes (PLOM). We examine the role of collaborative peer networks for both dimensions of students’ constructive handling of mistakes by analyzing their overall structure (density) and students’ embeddedness into the structure (number of reciprocal relations). We found different patterns for the affective and cognitive dimension: Students reported lower FOM in classrooms with denser collaborative peer networks and when they were more embedded in the structure, but only to the extent that they also showed high levels of general self-efficacy. Students’ PLOM was higher when they had more reciprocal collaborative relations to classmates and higher general self-efficacy. Denser collaborative networks did not predict students’ PLOM. Results are discussed against the background of social cognitive theory and recent accounts of co- and self-regulated learning.

Inequalities in the education system and the reproduction of socioeconomic disparities in voting in England, Denmark and Germany: the influence of country context, tracking and self-efficacy on voting intentions of students age 16–18

This article performs exploratory research using a mixed-methods approach (structural equation modelling and a thematic analysis of interview data) to analyse the ways in which socioeconomic disparities in voting patterns are reproduced through inequalities in education in different national contexts, and the role of self-efficacy in this process. The evidence suggests that in Germany and England students with lower socioeconomic status (SES) have lower levels of general self-efficacy, and that this is reinforced through early experiences of inequalities in the education system, such as within- or between-school selection. Low levels of general self-efficacy are then found to reduce political self-efficacy and voting intentions. In Germany and England, it is these students who enter initial vocational education and training (IVET). The experience of IVET then reinforces the distinctions in civic engagement, probably either through peer socialisation and/or curriculum differences. In Denmark, where SES has a weaker association with track placement, the experience of being placed in IVET plays a stronger role in reducing political self-efficacy and voting intentions.

Programme recruitment and evaluation: the effect of an employability enhancement programme on the general self-efficacy levels of unemployed graduates

This paper reports research that engaged in the evaluation of an intervention programme designed to enhance the employability of a group of unemployed graduates. The evaluation adopted a quasi-experimental intervention research method employing a general self-efficacy scale, which had been validated in prior research. Results revealed that participants displayed higher levels of GSE after engagement in the programme. Results also revealed the effect of ‘behavioural plasticity’ on the intervention experiences of unemployed graduate participants. The findings of this study are discussed in relation to programme design, recruitment and evaluation.

Psychological inflexibility mediates the effects of self-efficacy and anxiety sensitivity on worry.

Recent research has found low levels of general self-efficacy (GSE: beliefs about the ability to appropriately handle a wide range of stressors) and high levels of anxiety sensitivity (AS: fear of the negative consequences of experiencing anxiety) to be relevant predictors of pathological worry. This study examined the role of psychological inflexibility (PI: the dominance of private experiences over chosen values and contingencies in guiding action), the central component of the acceptance and commitment therapy model of psychopathology, in the effect of GSE and AS on worry. A total of 132 nonclinical participants completed questionnaires assessing the constructs of interest. Partial correlations and regression analyses showed that both GSE and AS were independent predictors of pathological worry after controlling for each other. However, mediation analyses revealed that psychological inflexibility completely mediated the independent effects of both GSE and AS on pathological worry. Theoretical and treatment implications of the results are discussed.

Soy and legume seeds as sources of isoflavones: selected individual determinants of their consumption in a group of perimenopausal women.

The aim of this studyThe aim of this study was to analyze selected individual determinants of consumption of soy products and legumes by menopausal women. The analyzed individual characteristics included the level of general self-efficacy, optimism, and satisfaction with life. The study, using a questionnaire for the assessment of food product consumption frequency, and psychological tests (GSES, LOT-R, SWLS), was conducted in a group of 320 women aged between 45 and 55 years. Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test with the Dunn test for multiple comparisons were used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05).Material and methodsThe analyzed 45-55-year-old women consumed legume seeds several times a month on average, while the frequency of soy/soy product consumption was lower than once a month. Statistical analysis revealed that the frequency of soy product consumption increased with the level of self-efficacy, optimism and satisfaction with life (p < 0.01). Also the increased frequency of legume seed consumption was associated with higher level of optimism and satisfaction with life (p < 0.01).ResultsIntergroup comparisons of the average consumption frequency of these products confirmed that legume seeds were significantly more frequently chosen by women characterized by high rather than low levels of optimism (3.36 vs. 2.62, p < 0.001) and satisfaction with life (3.36 vs. 2.65, p < 0.01). Also soy products were preferred significantly more often by women with higher levels of optimism (2.00 vs. 1.38, p < 0.05) and satisfaction with life (2.02 vs. 1.39, p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe consumption of legume seeds, and especially soy products, was revealed to be very low among perimenopausal women, and varied depending on the analyzed individual traits, with a tendency to more frequent ingestion by individuals with higher levels of self-efficacy, optimism, and satisfaction with life.