SELF-EFFICACY AS A PREDICTOR OF PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM A LONGITUDINAL STUDY IN NURSING

Abstract

This chapter explores the dynamics of self-efficacy and its relationship with academic performance in nursing students, using a longitudinal approach. Self-efficacy, defined as the belief in one’s capacity to organize and execute actions to achieve goals, is a fundamental psychological construct for educational and professional success. In the nursing context, where training demands complex skills and resilience, understanding the evolution of self-efficacy is crucial. The study adopts a longitudinal, prospective, and quantitative design, following a cohort of nursing students throughout their education. Validated instruments were used to measure self-efficacy in different domains and academic performance. Results reveal a “V” pattern in self-efficacy, with an initial decline and subsequent recovery, and indicate that sociodemographic and academic factors influence these trajectories. It is concluded that self-efficacy is a significant predictor of performance, and educational interventions focused on strengthening it are essential to optimize the training of future nurses.