Tenets Of Social Cognitive Theory Research Articles

A multilevel investigation of workplace bullying and employee creative behavior: uncovering the crucial role of psychological capital

PurposeThis study investigates workplace bullying through a novel conceptualization by focusing on the simultaneous effects of abusive supervision and coworkers’ bullying. It aims to thoroughly understand how these harmful behaviors affect employee creative behavior.Design/methodology/approachBased on the tenets of social cognitive theory, this study used multilevel structural equation modeling with Mplus to analyze multi-source and multi-wave data collected from the information, communication and technology sector. The sample included 510 participants from 170 teams, comprising 340 subordinates and their 170 supervisors. Responses were collected at three time points, with a gap of approximately two weeks.FindingsThe findings indicate significant direct effects of abusive supervision and coworkers’ bullying on employee creative behavior, highlighting the detrimental effects of workplace bullying. Additionally, this study introduced and tested the mediating role of psychological capital, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms through which workplace bullying affects employee creative behavior.Originality/valueBy adopting a social cognitive framework, this multilevel research advances the field and enriches the literature on workplace bullying and employee creative behavior. This study adds depth to existing research by examining how abusive supervision and coworkers’ bullying simultaneously affect employees. It also highlights the vital role of psychological capital in mediating these effects. The findings emphasize the need to tackle workplace bullying to boost employee creative behavior and overall well-being.

Meta-analysis of chemistry-based interdisciplinary informal research experience program for high school students

Research-based learning models, particularly interdisciplinary programs, are crucial in promoting STEM skills and fostering positive attitudes among students. This study presents a meta-analysis evaluating the impact of a chemistry-based interdisciplinary research experience program on high school students in Qatar. Over ten cohorts from 2010 to 2020, 230 students participated in multidisciplinary, hands-on research experiences. The study used pre-post questionnaires and t-test analyses, with further meta-analysis conducted using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in shaping STEM attitudes. Significant findings emerged, with a notable large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.885), underscoring the program’s efficacy in bolstering positive STEM attitudes among students. The study observed that research complexity and gender do influence the outcome of the program, aligning with the tenets of Social Cognitive Theory, which posits that both individual and contextual elements are influential in attitude formation and learning processes. Conclusively, the research substantiates that interdisciplinary, experiential learning significantly heightens student interest in STEM fields. It also points to the potential benefits of further explorations into the nuances of gender disparities and the complexity of research in enhancing the scope and impact of such educational programs.

Additive vs. redundant properties of theory in the advancement of weight-control behaviors within community-based obesity treatments in lower- to lower-middle income women

BackgroundObesity is a growing epidemic with non-surgical/non-pharmacological interventions having only nominal and transient effects on excess weight. Those persistent shortcomings are associated with minimal understandings of impacts of treatment-associated changes in psychological variables and their relationships. Women of lower incomes have high rates of obesity and might have increased difficulties accessing evidence-based programs.MethodsWomen with obesity of lower- to lower-middle incomes participated in 6-month community-based treatments in the United States emphasizing either self-regulatory skills development (behavioral methods group: n = 63) or typical education in exercise and healthy dietary practices (education group: n = 48).ResultsThere were significant 6-month improvements in self-regulation, self-efficacy, mood, physical activity/exercise, dietary behaviors, and weight in both groups. All improvements were significantly greater in the behavioral group. Based on the incorporation of multiple behavioral theories, separate multiple regression models were fit for prediction of the weight-loss behavior changes. Stepwise entry of changes in self-regulation, self-efficacy, and mood each significantly contributed to the explained variance in physical activity/exercise change. Change in self-efficacy was most relevant in the prediction of change in dietary behaviors. Change in physical activity/exercise was significantly related to change in dietary behaviors; however, a regression analysis indicated that only physical activity/exercise change was a significant independent contributor to the overall accounted-for variance in lost weight.ConclusionBy incorporating key tenets of social cognitive theory, self-efficacy theory, self-regulation theory, coaction theory, and the mood-behavior model in an additive manner, suggestions and emphases for addressing psychological variables for improved weight-loss behaviors within scalable obesity treatments were advanced.

Theory-Driven Behavioral Obesity Treatment and Carry-Over of Exercise-Related, to Eating-Related, Self-Regulation: Effects on Short- and Long-Term Weight/Waist Circumference Reductions.

The predominant method for treating obesity has been suggesting and providing information on a controlled diet and, to a lesser extent, increased exercise. That approach has largely failed beyond the short term for many decades as obesity rates continue to rise. Therefore, leveraging improvements in psychosocial correlates of weight-loss behaviors has sometimes been suggested instead. The aim of this study was evaluation of targeted improvements in self-regulation and self-efficacy within a theoretically derived weight-loss program. Women with obesity (N = 103) participated in a year-long community-based program emphasizing self-regulatory skills development to counter lifestyle barriers/challenges to first exercise, then controlled eating. Within a structured treatment protocol administered by community facility employees-and based on tenets of social cognitive theory, self-regulation theory, self-efficacy theory, and coaction theory-self-regulatory skills were initially developed to foster adherence to exercise. Those skills were then adapted to promote eating-behavior changes, emphasizing fruit and vegetable intake. Improvements in measures of exercise self-regulation, eating self-regulation, and self-efficacy for controlling eating, their corresponding behaviors, and weight and waist circumference were significant. Greater within-participant carry-over of changes in exercise self-regulation to eating self-regulation was significantly associated with more weight and waist circumference reductions over both 6 and 12 months. Change in eating-related self-efficacy significantly mediated those relationships. The mean weight reduction of approximately 6% indicated positive effects on obesity-related health risks. The community-based setting indicated potentials for large-scale dissemination of theory- and evidence-driven behavioral obesity treatments focused primarily on self-regulatory skills development.

Experience Matters: Turning Psychopathy into Self-Efficacy and Job Performance

Using the tenets of social cognitive theory, this study diverges significantly from the conventional research paradigm by shedding light on the pivotal role of job experience and self-efficacy in predicting psychopath's job performance. In the scholarly discourse where positive associations between psychopathy and performance metrics have received minimal attention, this study introduces a validated model proposing a constructive influence of psychopathy on job performance. While acknowledging job experience as a moderator, this study accentuates the pivotal role of self-efficacy as a mediator, challenging the traditionally hostile psychopathy- job performance relationship. We employ an experimental research design on the MBA executive class of 68 students of GC University Faisalabad. The results reveal the causal solid effect of psychopathic personality on self-efficacy in manipulated job experience conditions and a slight impact on no job experience control conditions. Meanwhile, at low values of psychopathy, the effect is diminished in both job experience conditions. Notably, job experience emerges as an indispensable agent, significantly shaping the impact of psychopathy on self-efficacy and subsequent employee performance.

White privilege critical consciousness, racial attitudes, and intergroup anxiety among parents and adult children in White families

ABSTRACT Prejudice and discrimination toward Black individuals in the U.S. serves to maintain White privilege. This research integrated the tenets of social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1977) and White racial identity theory (Helms, 1990) to examine intraindividual associations (i.e., within a single person) and interindividual associations (i.e., between family members) among parents’ and adult children’s critical consciousness of their White privilege, (anti)racist attitudes, and intergroup anxiety. We also tested a series of mediation paths from parents’ White privilege critical consciousness to children’s outcomes to explore potential mechanisms by which racial attitudes and behaviors are associated among family members. This study highlights the intricate nature of White privilege in White families, and their links to both progressive and harmful race-related attitudes and behaviors.

EFFECTS OF PATIENT QUESTION PROMPT LIST USE ON PARTICIPATION DURING OUTPATIENT PALLIATIVE CARE APPOINTMENTS

Abstract Question prompt lists (QPLs) support patients who are seeking information during medical appointments by providing preset questions a patient might ask their provider. Prior research suggests that QPLs promote communication, including question asking, during appointments. The current study evaluated use of a 25-question QPL during initial outpatient palliative care appointments. We applied tenets of Social Cognitive Theory to investigate the relation between question asking and self-efficacy. Participants were patients attending their first outpatient palliative care appointment at an academic hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to receive the QPL before their appointment (n = 29) or to receive usual care (n = 30). Audio recordings of appointments were transcribed and coded for total questions asked. Participants also responded to a single-item measure of self-efficacy in question asking at pre- and post-appointment. On average, participants in usual care appointments asked 9.37 questions (SD = 10.3, range= 0 – 49), and participants in QPL appointments asked 11.24 questions (SD = 10.1, range = 0 – 45), but with no significant difference between groups, F(1,56) = 0.14, p = .71. All participants reported an increase in self-efficacy from pre- to post-assessment, F(1,83) = 18.76, p < .00, but there was no interaction effect of time and condition, F(1,83) = .81, p = .37. Despite their promise in previous studies, our results suggest QPLs may lack potency to shift question asking, at least in palliative care appointments, and that other mechanisms of Social Cognitive Theory may better characterize the relation between question asking and self-efficacy.

"I expected little, although I learned a lot": perceived benefits of participating in HIV risk reduction sessions among women engaged in sex work in Uganda

BackgroundThe global HIV burden remains a public health concern. Women engaged in sex work (WESW) are at higher risk of acquiring HIV compared to the general adult population. Uganda reports high rates of HIV prevalence among WESW. While WESW in Uganda have long been the subject of surveillance studies, they have not been targeted by theory-informed HIV prevention intervention approaches. In this study, we explored the perceived benefits of an evidence-based HIV risk reduction intervention that was implemented as part of a combination intervention tested in a clinical trial in Uganda.MethodsAs part of a larger randomized clinical trial, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 20 WESW selected using a stratified purposive sampling. All interviews were conducted in Luganda, language spoken in the study area, and audio-recorded. They were transcribed verbatim and translated to English. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultsWESW’s narratives focused on: (1) condom use; (2) alcohol/drug consumption; (3) PrEP use; (4) “handling” customers; and (5) "massaging” customers. WESW agreed that male condom was one of the important learning points for them and planned to continue using them while female condoms were received with mixed reactions. Many women appreciated receiving information about the risks of consuming alcohol and drugs, and discussed how they reduced/ eliminated their consumption. PrEP information was appreciated though identified by fewer WESW. Handling a client was discussed as a helpful strategy for safer sex through improved ability to convince customers to use condoms or avoiding sex. Massaging was also beneficial to avoid penetrative sex, but similar to female condom, massaging also yielded mixed perceptions.ConclusionWESW found the intervention beneficial and described ways in which it improved their ability to engage in safer sex and stay healthy. The fact that WESW identified other strategies beyond condom use as helpful underlines the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to behavioral interventions targeting HIV prevention even when combined with other interventions. Additionally, WESW’s narratives suggest that incorporating the tenets of social cognitive theory and harm reduction approaches in HIV prevention among this population can result in risk behavior change.

Utilizing Tenets of Social Cognitive Theory to Facilitate Stay–Leave Decision Making in Victims of Partner Abuse

This article argues for the increased use of tenets of social cognitive theory (SCT) when studying stay–leave decision-making processes for victims of partner abuse. SCT is widely utilized to explain and predict human behavior in a variety of contexts including political reform and social activism against oppressive governments. Further, different conceptualizations of control (e.g., empowerment) are being widely used in partner abuse research. However, self-efficacy beliefs and outcome expectancies are rarely utilized to predict how people will try to exercise control over themselves and their surrounding environments within intimate relationships characterized by oppression. The absence of SCT within partner abuse literature is paradoxical given that multilevel systematic oppression of groups of people (e.g., women, racial minorities) contributes to the high prevalence of partner violence. The article reviews the literature on stay–leave decisions to argue that variations in combined self-efficacy and outcome expectancy beliefs may explain variance in victims’ responses to partner abuse. The status of research is critiqued, a future research agenda is presented, and clinical recommendations are suggested to aid the advancement of SCT applications in the context of abusive relationships.

Understanding Employee Innovative Behavior and Thriving at Work: A Chinese Perspective

Drawing from the tenets of social cognitive theory, the present study examined the effect of thriving at work on innovation behavior via organizational support of innovation. The data were collected at three points in time from 402 participants occupying a variety of positions in Chinese organizations. Structural equation modeling and multilevel regression analysis results demonstrated that employees’ thriving was positively related to organizational support of innovation, which in turn was positively related to innovative behavior. In addition, moderated mediation results demonstrated that employee external contacts strengthened the relationship between organizational support of innovation and innovative behavior, and enhanced the positive effects of thriving. Our results deepen and go beyond previous research on thriving at work. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Exercise Predicts Long-Term Weight Loss in Women With Class 1 and Class 2 Obesity Through Effects on Emotional Eating and its Correlates.

The relationship between exercise and long-term weight loss is definitive. However, in deconditioned individuals, the basis of that relationship beyond minimal energy expenditures is unclear. Effects emanating from exercise's proposed association with changes in emotional eating and its psychosocial correlates were tested. Women with class 1 (n = 67) and class 2 (n = 53) obesity, participating in a new community-based weight-loss treatment based on tenets of social cognitive theory, were assessed at baseline and Months 3, 6, 12, and 24 on weight and measures of exercise outputs, emotional eating, eating self-regulation, and negative mood. An exercise-support component was provided for 2 months prior to group nutrition-change sessions. Improvements from baseline were significant on all measures but did not significantly differ by group. Although not for the initial 3 months, changes in exercise significantly predicted weight changes over 6, 12, and 24 months from baseline. However, only 26%-31% of the lost weight was directly attributable to exercise-related energy expenditures. Changes in emotional eating significantly mediated the exercise-weight-loss relationship, and changes in self-regulation and mood significantly mediated the exercise-emotional eating relationship. Findings supported exercise's role in long-term weight loss primarily through psychosocial factors.

Self-efficacy and work engagement: test of a chain model

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating roles of work and family demands and work-life balance on the relationship between self-efficacy (to regulate work and life) and work engagement. Specifically, it seeks to explain how self-efficacy influences employees’ thought patterns and emotional reactions, which in turn enable them to cope with work and family demands, and ultimately achieve work-life balance and work engagement.Design/methodology/approachStructural equation modelling (SEM) of survey data obtained from a heterogeneous sample of 1,010 Australian employees is used to test the hypothesised chain mediation model.FindingsThe SEM results support the hypothesised model. Self-efficacy was significantly and negatively related to work and family demands, which in turn were negatively associated with work-life balance. Work-life balance, in turn, enabled employees to be engaged in their work.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings support the key tenets of social cognitive theory and conservation of resources (COR) theory and demonstrate how self-efficacy can lead to work-life balance and engagement despite the presence of role demands. Study limitations (e.g. cross-sectional research design) and future research directions are discussed.Originality/valueThis study incorporates COR theory with social cognitive theory to improve understanding of how self-efficacy enhances work-life balance and work engagement through a self-fulfilling cycle in which employees achieve what they believe they can accomplish, and in the process, build other skills and personal resources to manage work and family challenges.

Applying Social Cognitive Theory in Coaching Athletes: The Power of Positive Role Models

The purpose of this article is to help coaches apply specific principles of psychology to the coaching process. More specifically, the work of Albert Bandura and his social cognitive theory form the basis for the article. This article begins with a brief overview of Bandura's social cognitive theory. It then examines four types of behaviors worthy of imitation and provides practical examples of each. Thereafter, the article defines and outlines various models that coaches need to be aware of and the power of modeling. It concludes with an examination of four processes of observational learning, and most importantly, the actual practical application of social cognitive theory as it relates to coaching athletes. By exploring and developing a better understanding of the basic tenets of social cognitive theory and its applications, coaches can add to and enhance their “coaching toolbox,” and ultimately improve their practice.

精神的健康・幸福度をめぐる新たな二者関係理論とその実証方法

Dyadic relationships play a pivotal role in mental health and well-being. Although individual-level factors such as self-esteem and attachment style have been widely studied, the psychological constructs shared and emerging in dyadic relationships have not been explored adequately. This article introduces a novel approach called “individual-dyad dynamics” for understanding mental health and well-being, and provides an overview of dyadic data analysis methods. The approach examines processes involved in dyadic relationships at both the individual and dyad level. Utilizing the tenets of social cognitive theory and social capital theory, we propose that shared relational efficacy, which refers to two individuals having common efficacy expectations and subjectively experiencing commonality in expectations, is distinguishable from perceived relational efficacy. The article discusses the nature of shared relational efficacy from both theoretical (i.e., self-efficacy and shared reality) and analytical (i.e., multilevel structural equation modeling) perspectives. We summarize past empirical research providing preliminary support for this approach and outline implications and future directions regarding dyadic relationship studies.

Creating a longitudinal integrated clerkship with mutual benefits for an academic medical center and a community health system.

The longitudinal integrated clerkship is a model of clinical education driven by tenets of social cognitive theory, situated learning, and workplace learning theories, and built on a foundation of continuity between students, patients, clinicians, and a system of care. Principles and goals of this type of clerkship are aligned with primary care principles, including patient-centered care and systems-based practice. Academic medical centers can partner with community health systems around a longitudinal integrated clerkship to provide mutual benefits for both organizations, creating a sustainable model of clinical training that addresses medical education and community health needs. A successful one-year longitudinal integrated clerkship was created in partnership between an academic medical center and an integrated community health system. Compared with traditional clerkship students, students in this clerkship had better scores on Clinical Performance Examinations, internal medicine examinations, and high perceptions of direct observation of clinical skills.Advantages for the academic medical center include mitigating the resources required to run a longitudinal integrated clerkship while providing primary care training and addressing core competencies such as systems-based practice, practice-based learning, and interprofessional care. Advantages for the community health system include faculty development, academic appointments, professional satisfaction, and recruitment.Success factors include continued support and investment from both organizations' leadership, high-quality faculty development, incentives for community-based physician educators, and emphasis on the mutually beneficial relationship for both organizations. Development of a longitudinal integrated clerkship in a community health system can serve as a model for developing and expanding these clerkship options for academic medical centers.

Effects of The Coach Approach Intervention on Adherence to Exercise in Obese Women

The link between physical activity and weight loss has precipitated interest in interventions to foster adherence to exercise. It has been suggested that treatment effects, when significant, should be analyzed to determine theory-based mediators. This research assessed possible mediation of changes in Physical Self-Concept, Exercise Self-Efficacy, Total Mood Disturbance, and Body Areas Satisfaction scores on the relationship between exercise session attendance and participation by obese women in a 6-month treatment based on tenets of social cognitive theory (n = 73) or a control condition (n = 64). Participation in the treatment was associated with significantly greater exercise session attendance and significantly greater improvements in Physical Self-Concept, Exercise Barriers Self-Efficacy, and Body Areas Satisfaction. Overall, changes in the assessed psychological factors demonstrated significant mediation of the association between group membership and exercise session attendance, R2 = .23, with only change in Physical Self-Concept scores providing a significant unique contribution. Extensions of this research across different sample types, and with longer durations, were suggested to refine theory and, ultimately, improve exercise adherence treatments.

Effects of Improved Self-Appraisal and Mood Factors on Weight Loss in Obese Women Initiating Supported Exercise

This study aimed to test to what extent improvements in self-appraisal and mood factors were associated with changes in body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) and waist circumference. Women with obesity (N=171) completed Physical Self-Concept, Exercise Self-Efficacy, Body Areas Satisfaction, Tension, and Depression scales, and were measured on BMI and waist circumference, at baseline and just after a 24-week supported exercise program. With the exception of Physical Self-Concept, improvements on each psychological factor were associated with significantly greater weight and waist circumference improvements. Multiple regression analyses indicated that improvement/non-improvement on the psychological factors explained a significant 9 to 11 percent of the variance in BMI change, and 13 to 20 percent of the variance in waist circumference change. Significant unique contributions to the explained variance in BMI were made by improvements in Exercise Self-Efficacy and Depression, with improvement in Tension also making significant unique contributions to the explained variance in waist circumference change. Consistent with tenets of social cognitive theory, the association of improvements in self-appraisal and mood factors with weight and waist circumference improvements was supported in obese women. Replications and extensions of this preliminary research to, ultimately, improve weight loss theory and treatment, was suggested.

Sources of Middle School Students’ Self-Efficacy in Mathematics: A Qualitative Investigation

According to A. Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory, individuals form their self-efficacy beliefs by interpreting information from four sources: mastery experience, vicarious experience, social persuasions, and physiological or affective states. The purpose of this study was to examine the heuristics students use as they form their mathematics self-efficacy from these and other sources. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight middle school students who reported either high or low self-efficacy and with students’ parents and mathematics teachers. Students relied on information from all four hypothesized sources, which were combined according to various heuristics. Teaching structures, course placement, and students’ self-regulated learning also emerged as important factors related to self-efficacy. Results refine and extend the tenets of social cognitive theory.

Exploring the Sources of Turkish Pre-service Chemistry Teachers’ Chemistry Self-efficacy Beliefs

This study aimed to examine the underlying sources in developing chemistry self-efficacy beliefs of Turkish pre-service chemistry teachers. For this purpose, the College Chemistry Self- efficacy Scale (CCSS) was administered to 20 pre-service chemistry teachers. Then, phenomenological approach was employed and semi- structured interviews were conducted with five pre-service teachers selected based on their scores on the CCSS to identify the underlying sources. The emerging meanings and self-reported sources of participants' chemistry self-efficacy beliefs were analysed according to Bandura's sources of self-efficacy. Results indicated that mastery experiences were the major source of self-efficacy beliefs, supporting the tenets of social cognitive theory. Physiological arousal and vicarious experience were also influential but they were not as frequently reported as mastery experiences.

Interventions to reduce the adverse psychosocial impact of driving cessation on older adults

As a result of our aging population, the coming years will see increasing numbers of older adults faced with the prospect of giving up driving due to poor health or functional limitations. Driving cessation has been associated with negative psychosocial outcomes for older adults including restricted mobility and depression. While several studies report evaluations of interventions designed to help older adults to drive safely for longer, there is a paucity of published research concerned with the design or implementation of intervention programs intended to reduce the negative consequences of driving cessation. This paper reviews cognitive and educational interventions designed to promote older driver safety, and discusses possible approaches to the design and implementation of clinical interventions for older adults who have ceased driving. A broad framework for adaptable interventions based on the theoretical tenets of social cognitive theory, with an emphasis on planning for cessation, problem-solving and the involvement of friends and family members is proposed.