Self-efficacy predicts which aspects of behavior?:

• A. Initiation, effort, and persistence
• B. Only initial adoption
• C. Only cessation
• D. Only maintenance

Answer: (B)

Self-efficacy is a belief in one’s ability to perform and sustain a behavior. That belief most strongly predicts starting a behavior (initiation), the amount of effort someone will invest, and how persistently they will continue in the face of obstacles. While high self-efficacy can also support quitting a behavior or maintaining it over time, the most complete description is that it influences starting, the effort put in, and the persistence to keep going. For example, someone with high exercise self-efficacy is not only more likely to begin exercising, but will also work harder and keep going when workouts get tough. The other options narrow the scope to a single phase, which doesn’t capture the broader impact of self-efficacy across initiation, effort, and persistence.