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

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.

Obesity is an increasing public health issue in many parts of the world. Lifestyle treatment is the recommended first-line treatment although the weight reduction over time is limited. Food addiction (FA) is an upcoming perspective viewing some individual’s eating behaviors as similar to substance abuse described in DSM-IV-TR. What impact FA might have in lifestyle treatment is unclear. Self-efficacy for physical activity (SEPA) is a well-known predictor for physical activity and a variable in lifestyle treatment. The purpose of this explorative cross-sectional study was to investigate how FA and SEPA separately and together relate to days in lifestyle treatment for obesity. The study had 41 participants in different stages of lifestyle treatment. Instruments used to measure FA and SEPA were Yale Food Addiction Scale – Swedish (YFAS-S) and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale – Swedish (ESES-S). FA and SEPA did not relate to each other or to number of days in treatment, indicating that the two factors are unaffected by lifestyle treatment. Future studies investigating if FA affects weight regain after treatment are suggested. / Fetma är ett växande folkhälsoproblem i många delar av världen. Livsstilsbehandling är den rekommenderade första behandlingsåtgärden trots att viktminskningen på längre sikt för de flesta är låg. Matberoende (FA) är ett relativt nytt perspektiv som förklarar vissa individers förhållande till mat som likvärdigt andra missbruk beskrivna i DSM-IV-TR. Vilken påverkan FA har i en livsstilsbehandling mot övervikt är ännu inte klarlagt. Self-efficacy för fysisk aktivitet (SEPA) är en välkänd prediktor för fysisk aktivitet och en variabel i livsstilsbehandling. Den här tvärsnittsstudien ämnar undersöka hur FA och SEPA enskilt och tillsammans relaterar till antalet dagar i en livsstilsbehandling. Mätningar av FA och SEPA gjordes med Yale Food Addiction Scale – Swedish (YFAS-S) och Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale – Swedish (ESES-S). FA och SEPA korrelerade inte med varandra eller med dagar i behandling vilket indikerar att de två faktorerna inte påverkas av livsstilsbehandling. Framtida studier som undersöker FA:s eventuella påverkan på återgång i vikt efter behandling föreslås.

This study examines the relationship between truancy and levels of self-efficacy in adolescents. Results revealed no significant relationship between truancy and levels of self-efficacy. However, when the self-efficacy sums of the General Self-efficacy Survey and the Academic Self-efficacy Survey were analyzed individually with the dependent variable truancy, there was a statistical significant relationship in levels of academic self-efficacy in adolescents ages 12-1 7 years old who were truant versus those who were not truant.

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Recent increases in intellectual, social, infrastructural and economic resources available for the treatment of substance related mental disorders in the Western Cape reflects the national surge towards health promotion and eradication of the burden created by substance abuse. This large number of people who relapse and return to active substance abuse after receiving treatment obstruct this aim. This study aimed to determine the differences in self efficacy and assess for the risk for relapse during the first twelve months of recovery. Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory provided a suitable framework for the objectives of this study. A cross-sectional survey research design was implemented. Research participants were recruited from different aftercare groups across Western Cape using cluster sampling. The sample consisted of 105 English literate, consenting adult residents of Western Cape who completed an inpatient substance abuse rehabilitation program within twelve months spanning April 2014- April 2015. Data was collected from respondents using two instruments; a demographic information sheet, and an adapted alcohol abstinence self-efficacy scale (AASE). This instrument showed high validity and reliability during a pilot study conducted to ascertain its reliability in a South African sample. Ethics clearance and project registration was given by the Senate Research Committee of the University of the Western Cape. All ethics principles were adhered to and attention was paid particularly to ensuring confidentiality, informed consent, voluntary participation and the right to withdraw without risk of loss or negative consequence. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation matrices and regression analysis. The results indicated that self-efficacy was highest during the first days and weeks following discharge from a treatment facility. Respondents who remained gainfully employed during recovery reported higher overall self-efficacy and coped better with negative emotions, withdrawal, physical discomfort and urges to use. Respondents’ perceived ability to cope with negative emotions, and resist withdrawal and urges to use again decreased as post-discharge time increased, with females reporting lower self-efficacy than males and respondents’ age showing no significant effect on recovery outcomes. In conclusion, high abstinence self-efficacy has proven to be a predictor of sobriety. After care, interventions can focus on activities to strengthen abstinence self-efficacy levels. Employment stands out as a vital factor to consider in helping people maintain sobriety.

Prokrastinering är ett fenomen som är vanligt bland en stor mängd av befolkningen, framförallt hos studenter. Prokrastinering kan ha negativa effekter och self-efficacy ska vara en faktor som kan påverka graden av prokrastinering. I studien har en enkätundersökning gjorts på 45 studenter på Karlstad Universitet, för att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan prokrastinering och self-efficacy. 44 stycken enkäter sammanställdes och analyserades i dataprogrammet SPSS. Resultaten av analysen visar på ett signifikant, negativt samband mellan prokrastinering och self-efficacy. Resultatet i studien visar på att högre nivå av prokrastinering innebär lägre nivå av self-efficacy.

This study examined mathematics self-efficacy and the characteristics of flow in the context of performing mathematical tasks.  In particular, it explored the subjective experiences of 113 undergraduate students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course while they were independently solving certain mathematical problems.  This study supplemented the literature on the role of self-efficacy as a mediator of the effect of the challenge/skill ratio on flow by applying it to the context of mathematical problem solving. This study also expanded the discussion on how findings may indicate a direction for further research on mathematics anxiety.   Additionally, the relationship between mathematics self-efficacy and flow-like experiences as measured by the Flow Short Scale was considered.

Due to changes in health care, along with increasing technological demands, nurse's experiences increased stress. Nurses who are asked to staff another area other than their own have increased stress that can lead to increased nurse turnover, absences, and nursing dissatisfaction scores. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to assess whether limiting what units a nurse works on can reduce nurse stress, improve self-efficacy, and improve nurse job satisfaction. The design of this pilot placed like nursing units within a neighborhood staffing model for floating. The plan-do-check-act model was used as a framework to implement a change in the nurse floating practices. An electronic survey was sent to the nursing team pre and post implementation of the model. Nursing hours will also be tracked during this period of time. Data related to floating after the implementation of the neighborhood staffing model showed a significant increase in floating hours inside (13.1 vs 20.9; t=3.98, p<.001), and there was a significant decrease in hours floated outside the neighborhood (26.3 vs 18.0; t=5.15, p<.000). Self-efficacy results showed an initial decline in the nurses' self-efficacy 4 weeks after the launch and a statistically significant increase over preimplementation levels at 8 weeks (pre 28.46; post 33.51; U=5003, p<.001); on the 3rd administration of the self-efficacy survey, a statistically significant increase was seen (28.5 vs. 33.5; t=12.1, p<.001). Allowing nurses to float to similar nursing areas will result in improved self-efficacy, a precursor to reduced job stress and increased job satisfaction, which represents a positive contribution to social change for the nurses who work in the hospital system.