1. Perceived Self-Efficacy
NCI: Schwarzer & Luszczynska
Presented by Erica Howes

2. 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

3. 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

5. 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).

6. 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).

7. Self-Efficacy for Health Behaviors
Health behaviors studied:
Nutrition
Exercise
Alcohol Resistance
Smoking Cessation
Medication Adherence
Condom Use
Preventive Behaviors (Breast Self Examination)

8. 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

9. 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?

10. 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

11. Alcohol Consumption Self-Efficacy
Situational Confidence Questionnaire
Annis, 1984, 1987

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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)

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

16. Detective Behaviors Self-Efficacy
Breast Cancer Screening- Breast Self Examination
BSE Self-Efficacy scale measures intention + maintenance
Prostate Cancer Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening

17. (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)

18. 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)

19. Thank you!