Social, emotional, and academic self-efficacy of adolescents in suburban areas: analysing interdependencies across socio-demographic factors

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study of adolescents between 10 and 18 years old aimed to measure self-efficacy in different nationalities, gender, sex, parent education, and work history among adolescents. Analysis of Moris’ questionnaire of self-efficacy dimensions supplemented with socio-demographic data indicated significant differences in emotional, academic, and social self-efficacy across the father and mother’s education (p<0.01), nationality, and history of working as a child laborer (p<0.01). Children of families with more education had higher self-efficacy. In contrast, adolescents with a history of working and other nationalities showed a lower rate of academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy. Findings suggest the importance of self-efficacy training strategies in adolescents, based on their demographic status.

KEYWORDS:

• Social self-efficacy
• emotional self-efficacy
• academic self-efficacy
• adolescents
• suburban

Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude to the adolescents who participated in the study and generously shared their experiences. We also extend our thanks to Dr. Nazarian, head of the research group of the General Department of Education of Isfahan province, and Ms. Jaleh from the directorate of educational affairs, counselling, and care against social harms, for their consultation and assistance with the distribution of questionnaires in the aforementioned schools.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This article formed part of the dissertation titled “Investigating the dimensions of self-efficacy in teenage students from the marginal neighborhoods of Isfahan city in 2022” (no: 1401223). The article received support from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), although IUMS did not contribute to the study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of the findings, or the writing of the manuscript. Consent for publication is not applicable.

Notes on contributors

Faezeh Taheri

Faezeh Taheri, MS in health education and promotion at the department of health education and Promotion in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. She is a student now, and she has a growing interest in research and education on youth development.

Mohammad Javad Tarrahi

Mohammad Javad Tarrahi, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Epidemiology, and Biostatistics. He is a head of Epidemiology and biostatistics in Isfahan University of Medical sciences in Isfahan in Iran, and also biostatistics consultant in this study.

Masuood Mahdavianfar

Masuood Mahdavianfar, is Ph.D. in Public Policy at the department of public policy in Isfahan Azad University (Khorasgan branch) in Iran. He is a director of cultural and social affairs of Isfahan governorate. He was also the cultural and social consultant of the present study.

Zohreh Fathian-Dastgerdi

Zohreh Fathian-Dastgerdi, is Assistant professor in Health Education and Promotion at department of Health Education & Promotion in Isfahan University of Medical sciences. She is interested in community-based research specially among adolescents.