Self-efficacy theory

Self-efficacy, people’s beliefs about their own capabilities, is a concept that has gained considerable attention over the past four decades. According to self-efficacy theory, there are four main sources of self-efficacy (i.e., mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasions, and emotional and physiological states) that contribute to the development of self-efficacy beliefs. In addition, self-efficacy is believed to regulate people’s motivation, behaviors, and other outcomes (e.g., academic performance). Although there are issues surrounding self-efficacy theory, self-efficacy has been applied in the field of adapted physical education (APE). The results of a literature review in this field indicated that our understanding of self-efficacy and its correlates have been limited by a lack of self-efficacy measures and methodological limitations. However, researchers have provided some initial empirical evidence about self-efficacy measures, sources and consequences of self-efficacy, and effective strategies to enhance teaching and student self-efficacy. These empirical findings provide valuable insights on future research directions and practical implications for teacher preparation and teaching in adapted physical education.