The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of self-efficacy on social support between elementary and middle-school students. Participants were 249 fifth grade students and 246 seventh grade students. Social support scale (Hwang, 1996) and se...
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of self-efficacy on social support between elementary and middle-school students. Participants were 249 fifth grade students and 246 seventh grade students. Social support scale (Hwang, 1996) and self-efficacy scale(Hong, 1995) were administered. The main results of the study were as follows: Firstly, in both groups, students who gained evaluative supports from their friends and fathers, and who gained emotional supports from their teachers showed higher levels of self-efficacy. Secondly, elementary students who gained evaluative supports from their friends and teachers, and emotional supports from their mothers showed higher levels of self-efficacy. On the other hand, middle school students who gained evaluative supports from their friends and fathers showed higher levels of self-efficacy. Finally, male students who gained evaluative supports from their fathers and emotional supports from their friends showed higher levels of self-efficacy. On the other hand, female students who gained evaluative supports from their friends and teachers and material support from their fathers showed higher levels of self-efficacy. Taken together, levels of self-efficacy were positively influenced by friends' supports in both groups. Whereas mothers' supports were important to elementary students, fathers' supports were important to middle-school students.