Self-efficacy and well-being in adolescents: A comparative study using variable and person-centered analyses. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Andretta, James R.; McKay, Michael T.
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 118(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Academic self-efficacy -- Social self-efficacy -- Emotional self-efficacy -- Mental well-being -- Psychological symptoms -- Somatic symptoms; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105374
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Highlights: Academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy were measured in adolescents. The main outcome variable of interest was mental well-being. Bivariate analyses suggested that emotional self-efficacy was important. Five self-efficacy clusters were identified in cluster analyses. Membership of High efficacy cluster (high in all domains) was optimal for health. Abstract: Introduction: While there is already evidence positively linking higher levels of self-efficacy with well-being in adolescence, analyses have been of a bivariate or correlational nature. Previous studies have used both general self-efficacy, and a domain-specific approach. The present study operationalises three domains of self-efficacy (academic, social, and emotional), in a domain specific way, and additionally, examines how clusters, derived from scores on these domains relate to well-being. Methods: Data were gathered on academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy, mental well-being, psychological and somatic symptomatology, frequency of physical exercise, and parental security. Participants were 3, 485 adolescents ( M age = 17.0 [SD = 1.1] in their final year of High school in Northern Ireland. Results: Results of bivariate analyses pointed to emotional self-efficacy as a key variable in adolescent well-being. In the cluster analyses, five clusters were identified, and in a series of regression analyses, membership of the High self-efficacy cluster (characterized by high scores on all three self-efficacy domains), was found to be optimal. Conclusions: The application of cluster analysis revealed qualitative differences across a set of five categorical profiles. For that reason, interrelations among Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children scores at the group level should no longer be used to make inferences about how these variables function within individuals.