Relationship between self-efficacy and university dropout: a systematic review.
Ana B Bernardo1, Vanesa García-Gutiérrez1, Maria Esteban1
1Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 14, 2025
Summary
University students with higher self-efficacy are more likely to persist in their studies. This systematic review highlights self-efficacy as crucial for reducing university dropout rates, advocating for more longitudinal research.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Higher Education Studies
Background:
- University student dropout is a significant global challenge.
- Self-efficacy is recognized as a critical factor influencing student persistence.
- Understanding the determinants of dropout is of growing scientific interest.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the existing research on the relationship between self-efficacy and university dropout.
- To synthesize findings regarding self-efficacy as a predictor of student persistence.
- To identify limitations in current research and suggest future directions.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple databases.
- Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.
- Quality analysis was performed on eligible studies, with 16 documents ultimately analyzed.
Main Results:
- Higher levels of self-efficacy are consistently associated with a lower likelihood of university dropout.
- Self-efficacy plays a key role in students' decisions to continue their education.
- The majority of existing research is cross-sectional, limiting insights into temporal changes in self-efficacy.
Conclusions:
- Self-efficacy is a vital construct for promoting university student retention.
- Future research should prioritize longitudinal designs to better understand the dynamic nature of self-efficacy.
- Developing educational policies aimed at bolstering student self-efficacy is recommended to combat dropout rates.
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