Self-efficacy, like much of the seminal research in psychology, has been developed from an adult-centric perspective and the evidence-based theories then extended to the field of adolescence. Hence, research relating to self-efficacy is considerably more modest in the adolescent than in the adult domain. Nevertheless, the concept has been useful in a general sense and particularly helpful in identifying elements of the construct, such as academic, social, and filial self-efficacy, which are pertinent to the world of the adolescent. This essay briefly reviews that literature as it particularly focuses on the general nature of self-efficacy, its measurement, its various forms, and some of its links and programs that can enhance it.
Bandura and the Construct of Self-efficacy
Albert Bandura, best known for his significant contribution in the field of social cognitive theory, is accredited with identifying, developing, and providing the empirical support for the construct of self-efficacy....
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Bandura, A. (1991). Social cognitive theory of self-regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 248–287.
Bandura, A. (2001). Social cognitive theory: An angentic perspective. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 1–26.
Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Capara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. (2001). Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children’s aspirations and career trajectories. Child Development, 72, 187–206.
Bandura, A., Pastorelli, C., Bandura, A., & Capara, G. V. (1999). Self-efficacy pathways to childhood depression. Personality Processes and Individual Differences, 76, 258–269.
Bergmann, M. M., & Scott, J. (2001). Young adolescents’ wellbeing and health-risk behaviours: Gender and socio-economic differences. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 183–197.
Ehrenberg, M. F. (1991). The relationship between self-efficacy and depression in adolescents. Adolescence, 26, 361–374.
Ferrari, L., Nota, L., Soresi, S., & Frydenberg, E. (2007). The best of coping: A training to improve coping strategies. In Emerging thought and research on student, teacher and administrator stress and coping. Volume in series on stress and coping in education (pp. 49–75). Greenwich: Information Age Publishing.
Firth, N., Frydenberg, E., & Greaves, D. (2008). Perceived control and adaptive coping programs for adolescent students who have learning disabilities. Journal of the Council for Learning Disabilities, 31, 151–165.
Ford, K. H., Diamond, P. M., Kelder, S. H., Sterling, K. M., & McAlister, A. L. (2009). Validation of scales measuring attitudes, self-efficacy, and intention related to smoking among middle school studies. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23, 271–278.
Frydenberg, E., & Brandon, C. (2007a). The best of coping. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Frydenberg, E., & Brandon, C. (2007b). The best of coping: Student workbook. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Frydenberg, E., & Lewis, R. (1993). Manual: The adolescent coping scale. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Harrell, A. W., Mercer, S. H., & DeRosier, M. E. (2009). Improving the social-behavioral adjustment of adolescents: The effectiveness of a social skills group intervention. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 378–387.
Jenkin, C. (1997). The relationship between self-efficacy and coping: Changes following an Outward Bound Program. Unpublished Master of Educational Psychology Project. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.
Lewis, R., & Frydenberg, E. (2007). When problem-solving is not perceived as effective: How do young people cope. In Emerging thought and research on student, teacher and administrator stress and coping. Volume in series on stress and coping in education (pp. 35–48). Greenwich: Information Age Publishing.
Muris, P. (2002). Relationships between self-efficacy and symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression in a normal adolescent sample. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 337–348.
Oiu, T. P. S., Hasking, P. A., & Young, R. M. (2005). Drinking Refusal self-efficacy questionnaire – revised (DRSEQ-R): A new factor structure with confirmatory factor analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 78, 297–307.
Rykman, R. M., Robbins, M. A., Thornton, B., & Cantrell, P. (1982). Development of validation of a physical self-efficacy scale. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 891–900.
Schwartzer, R. (1992). Self-efficacy. Thought control of action. Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
Tonge, B., King, N., Klimkeit, E., Melvin, G., Hayne, D., & Gordon, M. (2005). The self-efficacy questionnaire for depression in adolescents (SEQ-DA): Development and psychometric evaluation. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 14, 357–363.
Tucker, S., Brust, S., & Richardson, B. (2002). Validity of the depression coping self-efficacy scale. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 14(3), 125–133.
Usher, E. L. (2009). Sources of middle school students self-efficacy in mathematics. American Educational Research Journal, 46(1), 275–314.
Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2006). Sources of academic and self-regulated beliefs entering middle school students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 31, 125–141.
Vieno, A., Santinello, M., Pastore, M., & Perkins, D. D. (2007). Social support, sense of community in school, and self-efficacy as resources during early adolescence: an integrative model. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 177–190.
Zimmerman, B. J. (2000). Self-efficacy: An essential motive to learn. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, 82–91.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Frydenberg, E. (2018). Self-Efficacy. In: Levesque, R.J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Adolescence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33228-4_163
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33228-4_163
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33227-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33228-4
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences