Psychosocial modification of general self-efficacy in older adults: a restricted review
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the concept of general self-efficacy has increased in popularity. General self-efficacy is positively associated with quality of life and has the potential to act as a psychological buffer against adverse events and circumstances. However, due to the long-term influences that are said to shape general self-efficacy beliefs, they may be resistant to intervention, particularly within the older population. This restricted review aimed to explore whether psychosocial interventions could improve the general self-efficacy of older adults. Aspects of intervention design associated with improvements were also investigated. METHODS: A restricted review was undertaken. This included a keyword search of four major health databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AgeLine). Search terms focused on general self-efficacy and the commonly used measures of this concept and were limited to the older adult population. RESULTS: In total, 848 articles were screened, with 20 studies proceeding to data extraction. The modification of general self-efficacy in older adults appears possible, with 7 out of the 20 included studies reporting improvements postintervention. Despite issues relating to the quality of included studies and the generalisability of their results, several aspects of intervention design coincided with intervention success, including intervention duration, and employing sufficiently-qualified staff. CONCLUSIONS: Future research must address the generalisability issues identified in this review. Studies comparing the effectiveness of individual- and group-based interventions, the efficacy of remote delivery platforms and the possibility for long-term transfer of any improvements are needed to contribute the high-quality data required for policy and practice decisions in this area.
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FitzGerald et al. concluded that while it seems possible to modify self-efficacy in older adults, the actual extent to which this is possible remains unclear.
“The authors concluded that, while it seems somehow possible to modify self-efficacy in older adults, the actual extent to which this is possible remains unclear and has to be further investigated.”
From Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an internet-based CBT intervention for loneliness in older adults: A pilot RCT (2024) · cites this paper as FitzGerald et al., 2022
Some researchers have questioned the possibility of modifying self-efficacy beliefs in older adults.
“some researchers have also questioned the possibility of modifying self-efficacy beliefs in older adults (FitzGerald et al., 2022).”
From Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an internet-based CBT intervention for loneliness in older adults: A pilot RCT (2024) · cites this paper as FitzGerald et al., 2022
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- Authors
- FitzGerald, J., Wells, Y. D., & Ellis, J. M.
- Affiliations
- La Trobe University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- FitzGerald, Jarrah
- Venue
- Australasian Journal on Ageing
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-03-02
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- e210-e226
- ISSN
- 0726-4240 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-6381
- 1741-6612
- PMC
- PMC9545063
- OpenAlex
- W4214894010
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2
- FWCI
- 0.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Australian Journal on Ageing (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- La Trobe University
- Funders
- La Trobe University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Health and Well-being Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Keywords
- general self-efficacy, older adults, psychosocial interventions, intervention design, intervention duration, remote delivery, quality of life, psychological buffering
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Delivery of Health Care, Humans, Quality of Life, Self Efficacy
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