The Feeling Of Self-efficacy In Adolescents

The mind of adolescents is difficult to understand. However, we can do a lot as parents so that they have a good image of themselves and, therefore, so that they can achieve the goals they set.

Adolescence is such a complex period that it provokes as many reactions as there are young people on the planet. To cope with the different situations that may arise, it is important to develop the feeling of self-efficacy in adolescents. Next, we will tell you what it is about.

The first to coin this term was the Ukrainian Albert Bandura, when presenting his Theory of Social Learning in 1928. Specifically, self-efficacy refers to the feeling, belief and perception of the young person about their ability to fulfill the tasks they face. That is, it is a type of self-confidence.

The feeling of self-efficacy in adolescents applies and needs almost in all aspects of their life. With this, we refer to recovery from a situation of pain, rejection or failure; making choices that will condition your life in the future; and the commitment, effort and perseverance that it shows to achieve its objectives.

In addition, it will also be essential to face situations of stress, pressure and vulnerability, among others. As you can see, it is a vitally important quality, which can even be worked on from childhood.

The feeling of self-efficacy and education

Like many other activities developed during adolescence, such as sports and social relationships themselves, education is strongly influenced by self-efficacy. Of course, it takes a central role because it constitutes the axis of young people’s lives.

What various studies affirm is that, for an adolescent to obtain good results in their education, it is essential that they believe they are capable of doing so. In other words, confidence in your own abilities becomes key.

With regard to the interaction of self-efficacy at the academic level and that of other areas – such as love relationships – there is still much discussion and various positions. In summary, some maintain that it is a generalized perception, while others affirm that it varies, depending on the activities considered.

How does the family influence self-efficacy?

The aforementioned study concludes that interactions in the family environment are fundamental for the feeling of self-efficacy in adolescents. For this reason, parents have the obligation to work on it even from an early age.

How to do it? A first action is to follow their learning process. This means helping them learn, motivating them to fulfill their responsibilities and, above all, not making them feel bad when something doesn’t go their way.

In addition, it is important to show a receptive and understanding attitude towards their concerns, as well as we must teach them to interpret and control their feelings. Lastly, something fundamental: let them make mistakes and make their own decisions. These are two central questions in this regard.

Self-efficacy is an essential factor when it comes to a person’s health and emotional balance. In fact, it is not just about training ‘successful’ young people, but even some authors have confirmed that it is directly related to suffering from anxiety disorders at this critical stage of life.

How do I know if my child has a good feeling of self-efficacy?

Adolescents with a good sense of self-efficacy manifest the following attitudes:

• They see challenges as opportunities for improvement.
• They are not discouraged in the face of defeats or falls.
• You are emotionally stable and able to cope with frustrations.
• They demonstrate motivation and commitment to obligations.

Strategies to develop the feeling of self-efficacy in adolescents

Finally, we will list some tips to help generate this feeling in young people:

1. Act as a role model and show her that with work she can achieve her goals.
2. Convince him of his abilities through dialogue; often the mind itself is the strongest limit.
3. Help him lead a happy life with moments of relaxation so that his mind is free to focus on his own.
4. Analyze the bad results and learn from them.
5. Set realistic, short-term goals that encourage you to follow through and lift your spirits.

With these simple, almost everyday techniques, your child will have what he needs to develop his abilities. Remember: the feeling of self-efficacy in adolescence is a central quality to face each of the instances of your life.