The varied roles of self-efficacy in health behaviour change

Abstract

Self-efficacy is a consistent strong correlate and determinant of various health-related behaviours. In spite of this, it is still unclear exactly what role self-efficacy plays in causing changes in health-related behaviours. Aims This symposium will present evidence in relation to the following key issues: 1) Clarifying the role of self-efficacy in initiating and maintaining health-related behaviour 2) Identifying which individual behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and clusters of BCTs are most effective at bringing about change in health-related behaviours 3) Clarifying the independent and synergistic effects of self-efficacy and planning in bringing about changes in behaviour 4) Identifying when self-efficacy should best be considered a moderator of the effects of other constructs, and when it should be considered a mediator. 5) Considering whether effects that are currently attributed to changes in self-efficacy should be considered as due to changes in outcome expectancies Rationale This symposium is in line with this year’s conference aims of developing understanding on the principles of behaviour change in health and illness. Summary This symposium has speakers from four different countries discussing cutting-edge issues regarding the role of self-efficacy in behaviour change. Four key issues will be discussed: (a) the role of self-efficacy in moderating as well as mediating effects of other constructs across several behaviours (Schwarzer), (b) which individual BCTs and clusters of BCTs are most important in initiating and maintaining changes in self-efficacy and physical activity (Tang), (c), the synergistic effects of interventions to alter self-efficacy and increase planning in changing diet (Luszczynska) and (d) whether the observed effects of self-efficacy are due to contamination of measures with outcome expectancies (Williams). Overall, the symposium will critically consider the multiple possible roles of self-efficacy in changing behaviour, and identify new avenues for future research to make best use of this central construct in behaviour change.