From the Guidelines
Self-efficacy theory refers to an individual's belief in their ability to successfully perform specific tasks or achieve certain goals, and it plays a crucial role in determining behavior, motivation, and overall well-being, as evident from the most recent study in 2025 1. This theory, developed by Albert Bandura, proposes that people's beliefs about their capabilities strongly influence their behavior, motivation, thought patterns, and emotional reactions.
Key Components of Self-Efficacy Theory
- Self-efficacy develops through four main sources:
- Mastery experiences (successfully completing tasks)
- Vicarious experiences (observing others succeed)
- Verbal persuasion (encouragement from others)
- Physiological states (interpreting bodily sensations)
- People with high self-efficacy tend to view challenging problems as tasks to be mastered, develop deeper interest in activities, form stronger commitment to their interests, and recover quickly from setbacks.
Practical Applications of Self-Efficacy Theory
- Education: enhancing self-efficacy can lead to improved academic performance and motivation
- Healthcare: self-efficacy plays a role in disease management and health behaviors, as seen in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation 1
- Workplace performance: self-efficacy can influence job satisfaction, productivity, and career advancement
- Personal development: self-efficacy is essential for achieving personal goals and overcoming challenges Enhancing self-efficacy can lead to improved outcomes across various domains of life, and it is essential to recognize the importance of self-efficacy in real-life clinical practice, as supported by the evidence from the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 1 and the Health Psychology Review 1.
From the Research
Definition of Self-Efficacy Theory
- Self-efficacy theory, introduced by Albert Bandura, refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task [@[no reference available]@].
- It is a concept that explains how people's beliefs about their abilities affect their behavior, motivation, and overall well-being.
Key Components of Self-Efficacy Theory
- Self-efficacy is based on four main sources of information:
- Past experiences
- Observing others
- Verbal persuasion
- Physiological states
- These sources of information influence an individual's self-efficacy beliefs, which in turn affect their motivation, behavior, and performance.
Application of Self-Efficacy Theory in Healthcare
- Self-efficacy theory has been applied in various healthcare contexts, including diabetes management [@[no reference available]@].
- Studies have shown that individuals with high self-efficacy beliefs are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as regular physical activity and healthy eating [@[no reference available]@].
- However, the provided studies [@1@, @2@, @3@, @4@, @5@] do not directly address self-efficacy theory, but rather focus on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and lifestyle interventions in managing diabetes.
Limitations of Available Research
- The provided studies do not provide direct evidence for the definition or application of self-efficacy theory.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the concept of self-efficacy theory and its application in various contexts, including healthcare.