Self-efficacy in adolescents who have siblings with or without disabilities

Fifty-four adolescents (27 with and 27 without a sibling who had a disability) were contrasted on levels of self-efficacy. Adolescents completed questionnaires measuring self-efficacy, peer competence, and maternal attitudes toward and modeling of prosocial and empathic behavior. None of the adolescent measures differed significantly between those whose siblings did or did not have disabilities. Females evidenced higher levels of self-efficacy than did males, regardless of sibling's disability status. For adolescents with siblings who did not have disabilities, interpersonal competence was significantly related to self-efficacy. For adolescents whose siblings had disabilities, interpersonal competence and maternal attitudes and modeling were significantly related to self-efficacy. Process-oriented variables associated with self-efficacy were identified and could become targets for intervention efforts to influence this positive set of beliefs in adolescents.