Self-Efficacy in Chronic Illness

"Think about how you developed high self-efficacy in these areas of competence. It's likely tha"

Self-efficacy is a person’s belief about how capable they are in performing behaviors needed to achieve desired outcomes. Chronic illness can reduce self-efficacy by changing capabilities, increasing stress, and creating uncertainty through fluctuating symptoms and energy levels. Lower self-efficacy can contribute to hopelessness and helplessness. Self-efficacy varies by task or domain, so a person may feel confident in some areas and not in others. Self-efficacy can be built as a learned skill, and improving it in chronically ill people is linked to better clinical outcomes and quality of life. A self-efficacy checklist can support identifying tasks and strengthening confidence.

Read at Psychology Today