Perceived Self-Efficacy

NCI: Schwarzer & Luszczynska

Presented by Erica Howes

What is self-efficacy?

A “sense of control over one’s environment and behavior”

Self efficacy can influence: Initiation of change Effort to make a change Length of change Types of goals set

Theories Using Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy appears in some form in: Theory of Planned Behavior Transtheoretical Model Health Action Process Approach Social Cognitive Theory Theory of Triadic Influence

Measurement of Self-Efficacy

Scales for measuring self-efficacy depending on the specific type of self-efficacy in question.

Measuring usually involves a sentence like:

“I am certain that I can do xx, even if yy (barrier)” (Luszczynska & Schwarzer, 2005).

General Self-Efficacy

General self efficacy- “broad and stable sense of personal competence to deal effectively with a variety of stressful situations” (Schwarzer & Luszczynska) General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale

10 questions, range 1-4 for each Ex) “I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try

hard enough” (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995).

Self-Efficacy for Health Behaviors

Health behaviors studied: Nutrition Exercise Alcohol Resistance Smoking Cessation Medication Adherence Condom Use Preventive Behaviors (Breast Self

Examination)

Nutrition Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is a strong predictor of nutrition behavior

Can relate to: Making good

food choices Controlling

intake amounts Self-regulatory

efforts Overcoming

barriers

Schwarzer & Renner, 2000

Measuring Self-Efficacy

How might you measure self-efficacy for: Exercise Alcohol Consumption Smoking

What factors might influence self-efficacy that could be important to address in the measurement? Ex) Social, environmental, other?

Exercise Self-Efficacy

Can relate to: Specific tasks (ex- ability to complete a given

amount of running) Regularity of exercise Overcoming barriers to exercise

Self-efficacy associated with: Endurance Competitive performance

Alcohol Consumption Self-Efficacy

Situational Confidence Questionnaire

Annis, 1984, 1987

Alcohol Consumption Self-Efficacy

Controlled Drinking Self-Efficacy Measured with Controlled Drinking Self-

Efficacy Scale (CDSES)

Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire

(DRSEQ)

Abstinence Self-Efficacy Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale (AASE)

Smoking Cessation Self-Efficacy

Smoking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SSEQ) Context-specific: self-efficacy varies

from situation to situation

Relapse Situation Efficacy Questionnaire (RSEQ) Predicts smoking rate: negative

affect, positive affect, restrictive situations (to smoking), idle time, social-food situations, low arousal, cravings

Medication Adherence Self-Efficacy

Used to explain adherence to regimens of: Anti-retroviral medication for HIV Self-injection treatment for MS Epilepsy medications Diabetes- Self-Efficacy for Diabetes scale

Insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring, dietary prescriptions, exercise

Hypertension Medication adherence self-efficacy scale

(Gbenga et al, 2003)

Condom Use Self-Efficacy

Condom Use Self-Efficacy scale- describes “feelings of confidence about being able to purchase and use condoms”

Detective Behaviors Self-Efficacy

Breast Cancer Screening- Breast Self Examination BSE Self-Efficacy scale measures intention +

maintenance

Prostate Cancer Screening

Colorectal Cancer Screening

(Un)related Constructs

Self-concept- “organized knowledge of oneself”

Self-esteem- emotional response to self-knowledge

Locus of control- attribution of responsibility for outcomes

Self-concept of ability- “judgment of competence without reference to action”

Dispositional optimism- “generalized outcome expectancies”

Hope- agency (similar to self-efficacy) + pathways (similar to outcome expectancies)

Locus of Control

Internal or external (I/E) Internal control of behavior (individual) External control of behavior (other

forces/chance)

A greater internal locus of control can promote better health. Similar to self-efficacy, but self-efficacy “is

also behavioral and prospective” (Schwarzer & Luszczynska)

Thank you!