Self-Efficacy Throughout Higher Education: A Latent Growth Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Education
• Sociology

Background:

• University students balance academic learning with professional life preparation.
• The transition from academia to the labor market involves job searching and role adaptation challenges.
• Self-efficacy is linked to academic success and positive post-graduation work outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the developmental trajectories of academic and transition-to-work self-efficacy in university students.
• To investigate the longitudinal relationship between academic and transition-to-work self-efficacy.
• To understand how self-efficacy influences the university-to-work transition process.

Main Methods:

• A three-wave longitudinal study design.
• Multivariate latent growth analysis applied to two undergraduate cohorts (N=204 and N=261).
• Tracking changes in academic and transition-to-work self-efficacy over time.

Main Results:

• Both academic and transition-to-work self-efficacy showed significant increases over the study period.
• Initial academic self-efficacy positively predicted initial transition-to-work self-efficacy.
• The change in academic self-efficacy positively predicted the change in transition-to-work self-efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Academic and transition-to-work self-efficacy are dynamic and develop concurrently during university.
• Academic self-efficacy plays a crucial role in fostering confidence for the transition to work.
• Findings highlight the interconnectedness of academic and career-related self-perceptions in higher education.