The goal of this project was to utilize social modeling, one of the antecedents of self-efficacy, to determine whether participants from The University of Texas Division of Housing and Food Service (DHFS) who chose to view a bilingual exercise role model video on YouTube increased exercise self-efficacy or exercise behaviors, compared to those who did not. The message from their coworkers featured in the video was simple: “If I can do this, you can, too,” and personal stories and success strategies were blended together to encourage and motivate viewers. The video compilation highlighted specific success strategies, in addition to employees sharing stories about what motivated them to change, or barriers they had to overcome in order to succeed. The video clip included both Spanish and English speakers, and the alternate language translation appeared as subtitles in all frames. Participants completed surveys prior to the launch of the role model video and again after four weeks (N = 113). Neutral promotional materials, both print and electronic, were disseminated to generate awareness about the video and to compare the relative effectiveness of different techniques. E-mails were associated with the greatest spikes; YouTube tabulated 210 unique views during the four weeks. Coworker word of mouth was the primary way participants heard about the video for those who watched (52.8%) and those who did not (33.6%). Despite concerns that participants would not watch the video, 46.9% of the participants did so. Most (88.7%) of those who watched the video were able to recall specific story details, indicating the use of YouTube as a delivery platform for health interventions is promising. Mastery of exercise was the strongest predictor of exercise-self efficacy and exercise; exercise self-efficacy did not emerge as a key predictor variable. There were no differences in exercise levels, exercise self-efficacy, social support, or collective efficacy between those who watched the video and those who did not. While the exercise role model video was well-conceived and developed, allowing participants to control exposure without associated exercise sessions was not sufficient to bring about a measurable change in efficacy beliefs or exercise behaviors. / text

<p>Syftet med uppsatsen var att utröna en inkubators psykologiska betydelse för studenter som startar företag. En kvalitativ undersökning bland nio företagsstartande studenter som tagit hjälp av inkubatorn Idélab gjordes för att identifiera psykologiska faktorer för att en student ska starta företag. Tidigare forskning har visat att self-efficacy kan ha betydelse. Tonvikt lades därför på entreprenöriell self-efficy med hjälp av en andra frågeställning; ”På vilket sätt påverkar Idélab sina studenters entreprenöriella self-efficacy?” Det framkom att <em>entreprenöriell self-efficacy</em>, <em>utbildning</em>, <em>stödjande miljö</em>, <em>känslan av att skapa sitt eget liv och framtid</em> samt <em>styrkan av att vara flera</em> var betydelsefulla faktorer för studenter som startar eget. Det framkom att Idélab troligen höjer sina studenters entreprenöriella self-efficacy med tre av Banduras fyra källor till self-efficacy.</p><p> </p>

The self-efficacy construct has been determined to be an effective method of stimulating desired eating behavior in diabetics and obese adults and exercise behaviors in pulmonary rehabilitation patients. Although the self-efficacy construct has been shown to mediate eating habits, practical classroom application of the construct has been rarely used in this area. A review of literature indicated that no studies have been reported on the effect of self-efficacy on food-related behaviors of children. The primary purpose of this research was to determine if, and to what extent, self-efficacy predicts changes in food choices of fifth-grade children. The effect of self-perceptions of competence on the nutrition knowledge of children after a nutrition education intervention program was also assessed. Forty-five fifth-grade children in two classrooms participated in this study. Their self-perception profile, food choices, nutrition knowledge, and food acceptance were measured both before and after the nutrition education unit. A 25 item nutrition knowledge questionnaire was also administered to the children before and after the nutrition education program. Change in knowledge in the cognitive domain was measured by differences in scores on the nutrition knowledge pretest and posttest. Students kept five-day food records for the school lunch items consumed. The fruit and vegetable intakes of the students were estimated from these food records. Chi-square analyses were performed on the data to determine the relationship between self-efficacy as the independent variable and change in food choices, and food acceptance and change in nutrition knowledge as the dependent variables. The 3 x 3 contingency tables indicated that there were no significant relationships between selfefficacy and change in food choices, food acceptance and nutrition knowledge. The findings provide limited support for the usefulness of the self-efficacy construct in understanding and predicting eating behavior change. It is recommended that further investigations of the predictive capability of the self-efficacy expectancy be conducted in children of this age group to better understand its relationship with food choices and implications for nutrition education for school children. / Graduation date: 1994

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In a mixed method study, teacher efficacy and contributing theoretical constructs of teacher concerns and teacher orientation with preservice teacher candidates were examined. Intermediate/Senior mathematics preservice teacher candidates from two major Ontario Universities’ Faculties of Education participated in this study. Data sources included a web-based survey containing two teacher efficacy scales and short answer questions, interviews with the preservice teacher candidates, and Intermediate/Senior mathematics course and program information collected from course instructors. Complexity theory provides support for the mixed methods methodology and the integrated and complex nature of teacher efficacy and its contributing factors. The literature on teacher efficacy rarely ventures into the secondary school mathematics preservice teacher level of teacher professional development. The study more clearly identifies teacher efficacy with preservice mathematics teachers and how teacher efficacy relates to teacher concerns and teacher orientation. The findings deepen the understanding of the connections between the constructs of teacher efficacy, teacher concern, and teacher orientation. Following from these findings, changes and considerations for preservice teacher preparation programs in order to more fully prepare secondary school mathematics teachers are described.

Higher levels of self-regulatory efficacy (SRE) appear to be helpful to those individuals with arthritis attempting to continue to be regularly physically active during an arthritis flare. Arthritis flares are presumed to represent a greater challenge to being physically active than usual arthritis symptoms but within-participant comparisons of pain intensity and SRE when considering flare status (flare vs no flare) have not been examined. While SRE has been compared between those who meet recommended levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during an arthritis flare, persistence with MVPA has not been examined in arthritis. Finally, pain acceptance has been associated with differential levels of MVPA in arthritis but has not been examined in the circumstances of a flare and persistence with MVPA. Thus, 4 objectives were advanced. Primary objective one was to explore within-participant comparisons of pain intensity and SRE during a flare or usual symptoms. Primary objective two was to compare those meeting and not meeting MVPA guidelines in terms of their persistence and SRE. Secondary objective one was to explore whether persistence with MVPA in a flare could be predicted by pain acceptance and SRE, and secondary objective two was to examine psychosocial variables ability to predict MVPA volume prospectively over 4 weeks. To pursue these objectives, 53 adults with arthritis were recruited to complete an online survey with potential follow-up questions completed online four weeks later. Concerning objective one, participants reported SRE to overcome arthritis barriers (SRE-AB) and to schedule/plan MVPA (SRE-SP) in two contexts; in a flare and in the absence of a flare. Pain intensity was reported in the same flare contexts. 2 x 2 ANOVAs were conducted comparing both SRE measures and pain between those that met MVPA guidelines or not, and within-participants in a flare or usual symptoms. A MANOVA was iii conducted between MVPA groups on SRE and persistence to satisfy primary objective two. Secondary objective one was examined using a hierarchical multiple regression (HMR) with pain acceptance and SRE-SP predicting persistence. A second HMR was conducted attempting to predict MVPA at time 2 (T2) using SRE and persistence. Results of the 2 x 2 ANOVAs were that SRE (AB and SP) and pain intensity were significantly different within-groups (p < .001) such that SRE was lower and pain was higher in a flare than not in a flare. Only SRE-SP was different between MVPA groups (p < .05). The MANOVA identified only SRE-SP in a flare as significantly different between MVPA groups (p < .05). Pain acceptance did predict persistence in block 1 of the HMR (p < .01) but when SRE-SP was added, SRE-SP was the only significant predictor (p < .001). Results of the second HMR indicated that of all the psychosocial variables entered, only SRE-SP in a flare significantly predicted T2 MVPA (p < .01). Findings suggest that, as active individuals with arthritis feel less efficacious to be active and higher pain intensity during a flare, a flare does indeed represent an increased challenge to MVPA adherence. Interestingly, pain intensity did not differ between MVPA groups while SRE-SP did, supporting that greater SRE beliefs are required in challenging circumstances. Pain acceptance did initially predict persistence until SRE-SP was added to the model. SRE may have consumed the variance in the model not because of pain acceptance’s inability to predict but rather due to the high correspondence between SRE and persistence measures. Finally, SRE-SP predicted MVPA volume prospectively, further supporting the utility of high SRE when attempting to adhere to MVPA during the increased challenge posed by an arthritis flare.

A recent study, the Diabetes Complications and Control Trial (DCCT), demonstrated intensive therapy to manage blood glucose levels significantly reduced the incidence of some debilitating complications (DCCT, 1993). Self-care management is an integral part of any diabetic's care. Yet, research has demonstrated as many as 80% of known diabetics are noncompliant to a prescribed regimen.The purpose of this study was to examine self-efficacy in low-income insulin dependent diabetics. The framework for the study was the concept of self-efficacy as developed by Bandura (1977). The instruments used was the Insulin Management Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale (IMDSES), (Hurley, 1990) and a researcher developed Demographics and Diabetes History Questionnaire. Data analysis included correlations between self-efficacy and ethnicity, educational level, years since diagnosis and years of experience with diabetes complications.Permission was received from the clinic administration to conduct this study at Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic in Northeast Indiana. This clinic serves the uninsured and the underinsured of the area. Procedures for the protection of human subjects were followed.A convenience sample of 82 ethnically mixed, low income individuals was surveyed. Relationships between total self-efficacy, diet self-efficacy, insulin self-efficacy and self-efficacy and the general ability to care for self were examined. These self-efficacy scales were also examined in relation to ethnicity, education, years of diagnosis and complication experiences. Result indicated Hispanics were significantly lower in insulin self-efficacy than African Americans.Correlations performed demonstrated that education correlated positively with insulin selfefficacy and the number of complications correlated negatively with insulin self-efficacy. Hispanics have a lower mean level of education and a greater number of complications. This could possibly explain why Hispanics have lower insulin self-efficacy than African Americans.The findings of this study evidenced a relationship between insulin self-efficacy, education, and experiences with complications. / School of Nursing

Research was conducted examining death anxiety from existential, psychodynamic, cognitive and sociological perspectives. The intent was to consider the role of death anxiety on well-being; four studies were conducted to examine how death anxiety influenced PTSD and mental health among people who have experienced a life-threatening event. These studies were conducted using undergraduate university students in Lithuania. The first study used a mixed-method design and in phase 1, participants (N=97) completed self-report questionnaires that gathered information on demographics, death anxiety, trauma and well-being. Results indicated a significant correlation between death anxiety and PTSD, but not psychiatric co-morbidity. Phase 2 attempted to further explore the phenomenological experience of participants with full PTSD, and 6 semi-structured interviews were conducted. IPA analysis found three major themes in response to the life-threatening event; self-efficacy, religious coping and existential attitude. Subsequent studies were then conducted to understand these themes as possible factors of death anxiety resilience in regards to life-threatening events. The second study (N=109) examined the role of self-efficacy and found that it was significantly related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity, but not PTSD. The third study (N=104) examined religious coping, but did not find evidence to support its significance; however again self-efficacy emerged as significantly related to psychiatric co-morbidity and death anxiety. The fourth study (N=110) looked at the role of existential attitude via posttraumatic growth and sense of coherence. Although posttraumatic growth did influence PTSD, existential attitude was not a significant factor for death anxiety or outcomes. However, self-efficacy again emerged as related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity. In studies two to four, self-efficacy did not act as a mediating factor and was independently related to death anxiety and psychiatric co-morbidity. Results were discussed in light of theories regarding death anxiety and their application to clinical treatment.