A longitudinal study of self-efficacy and depressive symptoms in youth of a North American Plains tribe

Abstract

We used a 3-year cross-sequential longitudinal design to examine the relations between self-efficacy judgments in three different domains (academic, social, resisting negative peer influences), cultural identity, theories of intelligence, and depressive symptoms. One hundred ninety-eight American Indian youths participated in the study, who all attended a middle school on a reservation in the northern plains of the United States. We conducted multilevel models to examine both between- and within-person associations as well as to investigate lagged within-youth associations. We found that not only did youths with relatively high self-efficacy have lower depressive symptom levels than other youths, but also increases in efficacy beliefs for academic, social, and for resisting negative peer influences predicted decreases in depressive symptoms within youths, even after controlling for previous levels of depressive symptoms as well as both contemporaneous and previous academic achievement. Neither cultural identity nor theories of intelligence moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and depression. As the first evidence that within-youth improvements in self-efficacy has developmental benefits, our findings help fill a long empty niche in the line of studies investigating the impact of efficacy beliefs on depressive symptoms.

The relationships between the use of self-regulated learning strategies and depression among medical students: An accelerated prospective cohort study

“…For instance, those who reported a medium score (4) for learning motivation, learning strategies, and management of learning resources at time two also tended to report lower scores for depression (−4.386, 95% CI: −7.596 to −2.076; −7.864, 95% CI: −11.408 to −4.32; −4.628, 95% CI: −6.876 to −2.38, respectively). Our findings were consistent with those of previous studies (Akin, 2008;Bandura, 2001;Ghaderi & Salehi, 2011;Scott & Dearing, 2012;Sideridis, 2005). However, those studies mainly focused on the effects of self-efficacy and goal orientation on depression, Table 3.…”

Resilience amongst Australian Aboriginal Youth: An Ecological Analysis of Factors Associated with Psychosocial Functioning in High and Low Family Risk Contexts

“…Similarly, longitudinal research with North American Indian youth found that self-efficacy beliefs were related to lower depressive symptoms over time, and cultural identity did not moderate self-efficacy [69].…”

Hope and Abstinence Self-Efficacy: Positive Predictors of Negative Affect in Substance Abuse Recovery

“…Estimates show that mood and/or anxiety disorders co-occur in up to half of people who have sought treatment for substance abuse problems (Langås et al 2011; Urbanoski et al 2015). Two constructs, specifically, hope and abstinence self - efficacy, are both related to goal pursuit and, thus, may have important affective consequences (Arnau et al 2007; Scott and Dearing 2012). …”

“…In general, self-efficacy is an important predictor of depression and well-being (Chang et al 2011). In this context, individuals may experience depression when they doubt their ability to perform actions that are necessary for valued outcomes (Ahrens 1987; Scott and Dearing 2012). Although hope and self-efficacy are related constructs (Ferrari et al 2012), research has supported a theoretical and empirical distinction between the two (Hartley et al 2008; Magaletta and Oliver 1999).…”