Self-Efficacy and Weight Loss

Self-Efficacy and Weight Loss

Some researchers find that women with lower educational attainment tend to have lower quality diets. Further, the explanations proposed focus on less family support, less financial resources and less pleasure taken in preparation of food. Less information on what constitutes a healthy diet may represent another reason. Lawrence et al. (2011) discuss a focus group with the outcome that women of lower educational attainment feel less self-efficacy in general, finding that they have less control over their lives and over their diets in particular. Self-efficacy is the sense that one has control over one’s life and the ability to reach one’s goals. Of more interest to the present discussion, self-efficacy is directly related to how long one will stick around and persist at a diet and exercise regimen.

Architects may have high or low self-efficacy regarding their architectural skills. Image: Elena

Also, Bandura was a prominent psychologist who introduced the concepts of behavioural modelling and self-efficacy, among other things. Bandura’s definition of self-efficacy includes belief in one’s capabilities. Bandura specifies that the concept has less to do with what one can do, and more with one believes one can do with one’s abilities. According to Bandura’s explanations, the effort expended is greater with greater self-efficacy, leading to better results in the long run.

Psychology is a fascinating (social) science, showing facts not necessarily evident at first look at a situation. For example, psychologists have shown that greater social support predicts greater consumption of fruits and vegetables. Aside from psychologists, who would tie such seemingly unrelated factors as being socially supported and fruit and vegetable consumption?

All in all, it seems that individuals from low income groups have less healthy diets. To go back to Bandura’s definition of self-efficacy, one’s beliefs about one’s skills and ability may have more to do with one’s eventual success at a task than one’s actual skills. To apply Bandura’s self-efficacy concept to weight loss efforts, believing that one can do it may have a lot to do with it. Thus, the common adage “if you believe in yourself…” may have academic support in such theoretical constructs such as self-efficacy.