As nursing leaders, nurse managers are critical to the future of the healthcare system, as well as the nursing profession. Becoming a new manager or leader requires considerable development (Conners, Dunn, Devine, & Osterman, 2007); however, there is limited literature that focuses on the development of the nurse manager (Cadmus & Johansen, 2012). The purpose of this study was to explore the development of self-efficacy in nursing leaders, specifically new nurse managers. Albert Bandura’s (1997) self-efficacy theory was used to guide this study. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Two themes emerged from the data, describing experiences of self-efficacy, and the development of self-efficacy. A positive connection between experiencing a mentoring relationship and perceived self-efficacy emerged from the data. The findings of this study provide healthcare stakeholders an in-depth understanding of the importance of mentoring and it outcomes related to the development of self-efficacy in new nurse managers.

Graduate

Research has shown links between high levels of teacher self-efficacy and increased student achievement. Theorists and educational researchers have identified conditions and resources that increase teacher self-efficacy. Building on existing research, this quantitative study used data from 46 teacher respondents in one Saskatchewan school division. The purpose of the study was to examine teacher self-efficacy and its relationship to teachers’ perceptions of their working conditions. An online questionnaire, based on the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) and the Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) Survey, was used to collect the data. The mode of data analysis consisted of frequency counts (means and standard deviations) for the descriptive items relating to levels of self-efficacy and perceptions of working conditions. Non-parametric methods were used to measure significance and level of differences among variables, and Spearman’s rho correlations were employed to identify the level of significance of relationships between and among the dimensions and items of teacher self-efficacy and teacher working conditions. A significant correlation was found between the two major constructs of teacher self-efficacy and teachers’ perceptions of their working conditions, and strong correlations were also found between specific dimensions of teacher self-efficacy and dimensions of working conditions. Teacher levels of self-efficacy were predominantly in the moderate and high levels, and teacher leadership was rated highest among working conditions variables. Time availability was rated the lowest of all working conditions, and was found to be significantly related to the teacher self-efficacy dimensions of classroom management and instructional strategies. Further research, using student achievement data and a greater number of participants, may clarify how teacher self-efficacy and working conditions affect student achievement.

Tidigare forskning visar att personer som genomgår träning för att öka sin self-efficacy har mycket större chans att finna jobb (Caplan, Vinokur, Price & van Ryn, 1989; Eden &Aviram, 1993). Denna studie baseras på en enkätundersökning gjord på 99 studenter och har som syfte att undersöka samband mellan studenters arbete under studietiden och deras nivå av generell self-efficacy (GSE). Korrelationsanalysfann inga samband för att stödja studiens hypotesom att studenter som arbetar och studerar parallellt skulle redovisa högre värden av GSE. Ett positivt samband påträffades mellan vilja att arbeta och förmåga att klara av tentamina. Resultatet påvisar även en tro hos studenter att få arbeten som passar deras högskoleutbildning, denna tro kan förutspås till sju procent av GSE och antal terminer studerade.

This study is an investigation of how people’s attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help are related to how they typically cope with stressors and by their general self-efficacy – a relationship that has not been examined in prior research. Participants were 754 men and women students in a mid-sized Midwestern university. Students completed an online survey that included the Brief COPE, Beliefs About Psychological Services scale, and New General Self-Efficacy scale. Results revealed that higher general self-efficacy and coping by means of Use of Emotional Support, Use of Instrumental Support, and Venting were associated with more positive attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help; and that lower self-efficacy and coping by means of Denial, Substance Use, Behavioral Disengagement, and Self-Blame were associated with less positive attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Implications for theory, research, and practice are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The problem of the study was to measure the association between physical self-efficacy, using the Physical Self-Efficacy Scale, and frequency, intensity, time and type of exercise among mid-west college students who participated in regular physical activity.The role of physical self-efficacy on preventative health behaviors has been well established in the literature and is of interest to health educators. This study was designed to measure the strength of association between physical self-efficacy and the specific components of exercise.The sample consisted of Ball State students (n= 412) who completed an Exercise Behavior and Physical Self-Efficacy questionnaire. Multiple regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to measure associations.Levels of physical self-efficacy were most closely correlated with intensity of exercise participation (r2 = 0.15). Duration of exercise sessions was only slightly related (r2 = 0.01) and frequency was not found to be significant. Students who participated in the types of exercises which required the greatest amount of intensity also had the highest self-efficacy scores. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

Counseling self-efficacy of supervisees is a significant outcome variable of counselor training. The Social Cognitive Model of Counselor Training (SCMCT; Larson, 1998a) provided a framework from which to examine the relationships of supervisory social influence in supervision, supervisory working alliance, and counseling self-efficacy. Supervisees' perceptions of their efficacy in counseling were assessed through the Counseling Self-Estimate Inventory (COSE; Larson, et al., 1992). The sum of the "client focus" and "rapport" subscales on the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory--Trainee Version (SWAI-T; Efstation, Patton, & Kardash, 1990) represented a measure of the supervisory working alliance. Social influence of supervisors was operationalized by the composite score on three factors ("expertness," "attractiveness," and "trustworthiness") on the Supervisor Rating Form (the modified Counselor Rating Form--Short; Corrigan & Schmidt, 1983).Participants were 78 trainees of various experience levels at several counselor programs. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the following three hypotheses: 1) A strong working alliance would predict counseling self-efficacy of supervisees. 2) Perceptions of supervisors as high in social influence would contribute significantly to the criterion variable, counselor self-efficacy. 3) High social influence and a strong supervisory relationship, while controlling for experience level, would significantly predict a portion of the variance in counseling self-efficacy. The hypotheses were supported. Supervisory working alliance, experience level, and social influence contributed respectively, 22%, 13%, and 6% of the variance in counseling self-efficacy. In addition to its unique contribution, social influence enhanced the relationshipbetween counseling self-efficacy and the supervisory working alliance by acting as a suppressor variable.Exploratory analyses revealed that supervisees who perceived their supervisors to be high in social influence were more satisfied with supervision. A strong supervisory working alliance also correlated positively with satisfaction with supervision among trainees. Satisfaction with supervision, however, was not correlated with counseling self-efficacy. / Department of Educational Studies

Mitral valve prolapse is the most commonly occurring cardiac condition. It is a benign condition which affects as many as 10% of the population. Some patients have symptomatic mitral valve prolapse. This condition is referred to as mitral valve prolapse syndrome. Symptoms include: chest pain, tachycardia, palpitations, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, low exercise tolerance, feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, and mood swings. These symptoms adversely effect the patient's quality of life.The purpose of this study was to investigate the response of patients with mitral valve prolapse syndrome to treatment that includes the accepted treatment for panic disorder, and to determine the roles of self-efficacy and of level of spousal support in enhancing the ability of identified patients to cope with mitral valve prolapse syndrome.Thirty-one subjects initially agreed to participate in this study. Of these subjects, fifteen left the study. The leading causes of dropout were lack of spousal support and multiple role stress. The remaining sixteen subjects completed the study. Subjects were randomly divided into three treatment conditions, individual multimodal therapy, couples multimodal therapy, and a waiting list/control group. Treatment consisted of attending a five session psychoeducational program and completing prescribed exercises at home between sessions. The first two sessions examined self-care lifestyle changes that patients could make to alleviate symptoms. The remaining three sessions focused on the over reactiveness of the autonomic nervous system for these patients and the efficacy of learned relaxation procedures. Dependent measures included a Symptom Checklist, Anxiety Sensitivity, Strength and Magnitude of Self-Efficacy and Strength and Magnitude of Interactive Efficacy.Data was analyzed in a two-step process. First, it was analyzed using a multiple single case design format. This was followed by a quantitative analysis of grouped data. In general, the multiple single case design complemented the quantitative analysis. Individual findings in the multiple single case design indicated issues for future research.Participation in treatment was found to aid in decreasing global physical symptoms, decreasing anxiety sensitivity symptoms, and increasing the subject's confidence in her ability to manage her symptoms. The increased level of self-confidence was related significantly to decreasing global physical symptoms. There was a weak, non-statistically significant correlation between increased confidence of self-efficacy and decreased anxiety sensitivity symptoms. Participation in couples multimodal treatment or any treatment was not significantly linked to increased interactive efficacy. Increased interactive efficacy was correlated with increased self-efficacy and decreased global physical symptoms. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The present study considered the relationships between internal working models of adult attachment, satisfaction with social supports, and career decision self efficacy. Theoretical support was found within the context of Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986) and Attachment Theory (Bowiby, 1 973 ; Hazen & Shaver, 1994). A conceptual model was proposed and tested using structural equation modeling to answer the research questions: is there a relationship between secure internal working models of attachment and career decision self efficacy, and if so, is the relationship between secure internal working models of attachment and career decision self efficacy partially mediated by satisfaction with social supports? A third research question was considered: are men and women similar in how they experience internal working models of attachment, satisfaction with social supports, and career decision self efficacy? Participants included 663 college-aged students (457 women; 206 men) from two Midwestern universities, with most being in their first or second year of college (72% freshmen/sophomores; 28% juniors or above). Alternate models for men and women were proposed and a multi-group analysis was conducted to determine if groups were similar. Results indicated that the groups were similar. Models were then combined for a comprehensive model representing both men and women. Findings indicated that there was a direct relationship between secure internal working models of attachment and career decision self efficacy and an indirect relationship that was partially mediated by satisfaction with social supports. Theoretical, research, and practice implications are discussed, as well as methodological limitations to the study. Future directions are offered. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This investigation examined the self-efficacy beliefs of medical professionals towards medically-related tasks. Although several instruments existed that measured different aspects of career self-efficacy, none of them was relevant nor appropriate to people who have already chosen their occupational field of choice. The typical scales utilized in assessing career self efficacy are generalized across occupations and not relevant to someone who was already employed in a profession. The purpose of the present study was to develop a new scale, Medical Tasks Self-Efficacy (MTSE), to measure the self-efficacy beliefs of a specific employed population toward their occupational tasks. The analysis of the MTSE was conducted using respondents (N=307) of medical professionals, specifically physicians and nurses. The reliability and validity of the scale was analyzed through four phases of scale development.Phase one consisted of item development which included the generation of an item pool from special occupational books and interviews with medical professionals (N=8). Additional experts (N=3) in scale construction were also consulted during this phase. Thirty-two items were developed originally and then, through consultation, reduced to 27 items. Phase two involved a pilot study with respondents from various medical settings in the midwest (N=34). The pilot study helped to provide preliminary reliability information and to modify the necessary demographic information. One more item was dropped from the scale during this phase and thus the revised MT SE consisted of 26 items.Phase three consisted of a major investigation (N=209) to test the initial factor structure of the MTSE and to examine the internal consistency. Using a principal components extraction, the MTSE yielded a two factor solution which seemed to best fit the data both in terms of statistical configuration and theoretical soundness. Factor One constituted tasks involving “medical content competencies" and held an alpha coefficient of .93. Factor Two constituted tasks involving "interpersonal process competencies" and held an alpha coefficient of .87.The fourth and final phase (N=64) was conducted to test the convergent and discriminant validity of the scale and to examine the test-retest reliability. Convergent and discriminant validity were tested using the Task Specific Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale (TSOSS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The MTSE was hypothesized to demonstrate convergent validity with the TSOSS. Both factors of the MTSE were significantly correlated with the overall TSOSS, and additionally correlated with the four factors of the TSOSS, with one exception. Only Factor Two ("interpersonal process competencies") of the MTSE did not correlate significantly with factor four of the TSOSS. The BDI was used to test discriminant validity. The BDI did not correlate significantly with either of the factors of the MT SE. Thus, the MTSE demonstrated both convergent and discriminant validity with the instruments utilized in this study. The two-week test-retest correlation was .80, additionally demonstrating a stable reliability estimate in the MT SE. Limitations and implications for future research of the MT SE were provided. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services