Self-Efficacy
Last reviewed Saturday, October 24, 2026Self-efficacy is your belief that you can do what a particular task or situation needs: pass an exam, stop smoking, speak up in a meeting. Psychologist Albert Bandura introduced the idea in 1977. It shapes which goals you try, how much effort you put in and how long you keep going when things get hard.
Also called: perceived self-efficacy; belief in your own ability; task confidence.
Examples
- A student who believes they can master maths keeps practising after a bad test.
- Someone cutting down on drinking gets through one wedding sober, and feels more able to manage the next.
- A new manager who doubts they can handle conflict keeps putting off a hard conversation.
It’s specific. You can feel capable at work and helpless about money.
Building self-efficacy
Bandura described four sources of it, and each points to something you can do:
- Doing it: succeed at a small version of the task first, then build up.
- Watching others: see someone like you manage it.
- Encouragement: hear from people you trust that you can.
- Your body and mood: treat a racing heart before a presentation as nerves you can manage, not proof you’ll fail.
Benefits
In a review of 241 data sets, university students’ belief that they could perform well was the strongest of 50 factors linked to their grades.
In Nigeria
Two Nigerian studies link it with coping. Among 676 women living with HIV in Niger State, those with stronger self-efficacy were more resilient and less stressed. Among 250 older civil war veterans in the south-east, those with more social support had fewer PTSD symptoms, partly through stronger belief in their own abilities. Both show links, not causes. See resilience.
Self-efficacy vs self-esteem
Self-esteem is how you value yourself overall. Self-efficacy is what you believe you can do, task by task. You can like yourself and still doubt you’ll pass your driving test. General measures of the two overlap a lot, and some researchers see them as parts of one wider trait.
When to get help
If self-doubt stops you trying things you want to do, or comes with low mood or anxiety, a therapist can help you set small goals and build on each one. You can book a licensed therapist on Mytherapist.ng for self-esteem and emotional skills.
Read next
This entry is awaiting clinical review. It’s based on published research and health guidelines, and we’ll update it once a clinician has reviewed it.
