Self-efficacy

This mixed method research design explored the relationship between the selfefficacy
of senior adults and their use of the Internet. Two quantitative research questions
guided this study: (a) Is there a relationship between the self-efficacy of senior adults and
their level of use of the Internet? and (b) Do the demographics (gender, age, and
race/ethnicity) moderate the relationship between the self-efficacy of senior adults and
their level of use of the Internet? Two qualitative research questions guided this study: (a)
Is there a difference in views of senior adults in regard to their use of other technologies?
and (b) Is there a difference in views of senior adults in regard to barriers and benefits of
the Internet? Some of the benefits
discovered were that all the Internet users interviewed (a) had knowledge of the Internet;
(b) had access to the Internet; (c) are interested in using the Internet; and (d) use the
Internet to escape boredom in retirement, view favorite websites and to keep the mind
active.

The present study examines whether one aspect of problematic adjustment--poor self-concept--contributes to victimization, is a consequence of victimization, or both. A sample of 187 third- through seventh-grade children were tested in both the fall and spring of the academic year on four self-report, self-concept measures: (a) global self-esteem, (b) social self-esteem, (c) self-efficacy for assertion, and (d) self-efficacy for aggression. At both times of testing, children also reported classmates who manifested both victimized and aggressive behaviors. Results indicated that social self-esteem and self-efficacy were both antecedents of victimization even after controlling for T1 levels of victimization. Social self-esteem was also an outcome of victimization after controlling for T1 levels of social self-esteem. A secondary consideration of the research was to investigate whether poor self-concept is predictive or an outcome of aggression, and results are discussed. Theoretical explanations for the specific relations found are advanced.

The purpose of this research was to explore and describe nurses' perceptions of their ability to interact with families under a variety of circumstances in the intensive care unit. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy (1986) provided a framework for the study. Twenty-six critical care nurses ranked their experiences and perceived self-efficacy on a list of twenty situations of family-nurse interaction. Information about years of experience in critical care nursing, personal experience of family illness, and family nursing courses was also gathered. The results of this study suggest that nurses' sense of self-efficacy varies with the circumstances of family-nurse interaction. Level of self-efficacy was also significantly related to nursing experience with families and to previous family course work. This study has implications for nursing administration, education, and practice. Suggestions for further research are also made.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant differences existed between female administrators and female faculty in public higher education in their perceptions of personal self-efficacy and their personal attributes. This was achieved by examining the relationship between the criterion variable, position held by females in higher education and the predictor variables, which included male and female characteristics, general self-efficacy beliefs, and social self-efficacy beliefs. A survey package including a demographics section, Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) and Self-Efficacy Scale for Adults (SES) was mailed to 200 female administrators and 200 female faculty employed by Florida's State University System. A stratified random selection was employed to obtain the 200 female faculty in order to ensure discipline diversity. The 200 female administrators were selected from the most current data available from the 10 universities' 1995-1996 graduate school catalogs and the 1995-1996 Directory of Women in Educational Leadership in Florida, published jointly from the Office of Postsecondary Education in Florida and Florida State University's Hardee Center for Women in Higher Education. Each scale and subscale was analyzed utilizing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedure. Three null hypotheses were tested at the.05 confidence level and then adjusted to the.0125 confidence level by employing the Bonferroni procedure. The employment of the Bonferroni statistical procedure eliminates the rejection of discrepant test outcomes due to Type I errors. Results of the ANOVA test applied to the General Self-Efficacy subscale were statistically significant at the .01 confidence level. Outcomes of this study proved to be significant to the growing body of women's research in that it denoted statistically significant results indicating that female administrators had a higher perception of general self-efficacy than female faculty. General self-efficacy is based on the premise that if an individual has a history of successful outcomes, than that individual will expect more successful outcomes than failures. General self-efficacy (identified as an internal barrier) may in fact be what is hindering more women from seeking administrative positions in higher education.

The nursing leader's challenging position in today's work environment may lead to an experience of stress, over-commitment, and overdoing. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the meaning of caring for self by registered nurse leaders who had participated in a caring for self project in a community hospital setting. This group of 10 nursing leaders had participated in a caring for self project and had experience in nursing ranging from 18 to 32 years. One year after taking part in the caring for self project the 10 nursing leaders participated in individual taped interviews to explore the meaning of caring for self. Hermeneutic phenomenology (van Manen, 1990) was the method used for the interpretation of this research study. The depth of the lived experience of caring for self was described by each nursing leader. A metaphor of climbing a mountain to the peak of wisdom, being on the path and staying on the path regarding care of self, came from the words of the participants. In their words, the leaders communicate four common themes: Reflections on the Journey, Why Care for Self on the Journey, How to Care for Self on the Journey, and the Wisdom Learned Along the Path. Based on their reflections, recommendations include implementing creative ways to encourage care of self are for the hospital environment and educational methods to reinforce care of self for nurse leaders in the educational curriculum. A focus on care of self described by the leaders in this study may improve personal health, add to personal growth, assist in communication skills, allow for role modeling care of self to others, support setting priorities and boundaries, contribute to flexibility, and promote a work-life balance. These qualities would assist in creating a positive work environment and may influence the retention of nurses and contribute to recruiting new nursing leaders. Caring for self by nursing leaders is an important way for caring nursing theory to be brought to the practice setting. By role modeling a work-life balance nursing leaders bring the circle of caring out to others, beginning with care of self.

After many years of substantial investments by the Saudi Arabian government in the education of its citizens, the results, especially in the area of employment, are felt by many to be less than satisfactory. While various factors may be contributing to the rising problem of unemployment in the country, the one focused on in this study was the relationship between self-efficacy and career choices. Specifically, the study examined the relationships between career decision-making self-efficacy, occupational preferences, and gender. Career decision-making self-efficacy was measured with an existing scale (CDMSES-SF). An instrument was designed in this study to measure occupational preferences. The surveys were administered to 476 male and 424 female undergraduate students at King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The results of the study found no significant relationship between gender and career decision-making self-efficacy. There were, however, a significant relationship between gender and career preferences for such occupations as accounting/finance, administration, computer technology, engineering, security, and social services fields; while in the education, health, and law fields no significant relationships were found. Career decision-making self-efficacy was not related to occupational preferences for any of the fields in this study. The relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy and occupational preferences is not affected by gender. The results show that, for males and females, there is no relationship between career decision-making self-efficacy and occupational preference within gender for traditionally male-dominated fields, for traditionally female-dominated fields, or for the neutral fields. The negative results of the study provide evidence that the general level of CDMSE is low for males and for females. The study concluded that the results of this study were inconsistent with previous studies that have reported gender differences in career self-efficacy in general and in self-efficacy for the female-dominated versus the male-dominated occupations. The study concludes with policy recommendations directed at helping students improve their CDMSE scores. These recommendations are career development programs, career counseling, job fairs, database information, and government financial support. Further research is suggested to enhance the findings and validity of this study.