Journal of Research: THE BEDE ATHENÆUM
Year : 2010, Volume : 1, Issue : 1
First page : ( 58) Last page : ( 66)
Print ISSN : 0976-0598.

Academic Self-Efficacy of College Students in Shimla: A Preliminary Study

Sud Shonali

Department of Psychology, St. Bede's College, Shimla -171 002, Himachal Pradesh.

Received:  3  May,  2009; Accepted:  10  August,  2009.

Abstract

An increasing emphasis on student's academic achievement puts pressure on students to excel. Bandura's (1977, 2006) concept of self-efficacy was examined on 200 (116 women and 84 men, mean age = 19.72 and 19.84 years respectively) college students studying for a professional degree in Shimla, in North India. Issues dealt with here were: Does self-efficacy as a coping mechanism help counteract stress that arises in academic achievement situations? Are there any gender related differences within the Indian culture with regard to self-efficacy, academic achievement as well as stress? Results show that self-efficacy enhanced student's problem solving ability. It also moderated effects of stress. Performance was measured in three different ways, (a) problem solving ability, (b) academic achievement, and (c) classroom tests. Results point out that although stress was a precursor of poor performance in all three testing situations, self-efficacy as a coping mechanism had the strongest influence on improving problem solving ability in comparison to academic achievement or classroom tests. Males predominantly outperformed females on anagram solution, showed greater self-efficacy and comparatively less stress. A few semi-structured interviews with the students revealed that positive thinking and high level of confidence (which are the concomitants of self-efficacy) were able to counteract the negative impact of stress at all stages during the academic session. This study points out that the youth today wants to excel and get a professional degree at any cost and therefore become self-sustaining at a very early age. The result is that most experience stress and become disillusioned and therefore unable to adapt to this transition. Strengthening personal resources like self-efficacy helps cope with such situations and that could prove to be the best way to meet this challenge.

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