Low self-efficacy reduces the chances of reaching goals, while high self-efficacy boosts motivation and persistence.

What often results from low self-efficacy in patients?

• A. Increased motivation and persistence
• B. Decreased likelihood of achieving goals
• C. More effective coping strategies
• D. Heightened emotional resilience

Answer: (B)

Low self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish tasks. When a person has low self-efficacy, they often feel less capable of taking on challenges, which can lead to a decrease in motivation and initiative to pursue goals. This diminished belief in their abilities can result in avoidance of difficult tasks and a tendency to give up more easily when faced with obstacles. Consequently, individuals with low self-efficacy may set lower goals for themselves or fail to set them altogether, further exacerbating the likelihood that they will not achieve their desired outcomes. The lack of confidence in their abilities can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, where the expectation of failure leads to reduced effort and eventual failure to reach goals. This cycle can adversely affect their overall mental health and well-being. In contrast, high self-efficacy typically fosters increased motivation and persistence, effective coping strategies, and greater emotional resilience, as individuals believe they can overcome challenges and bounce back from setbacks. Therefore, the correct association of low self-efficacy is the decreased likelihood of achieving goals.

Self-efficacy is a little term that packs a big punch. In everyday talk, we talk about confidence. In clinical language, though, self-efficacy is more like a personal belief in your ability to succeed at a specific task or in a tough situation. It’s not about feeling great all the time. It’s about knowing you can take on the challenge and bounce back if things don’t go perfectly.

Here’s the thing: when self-efficacy is low, people tend to pull back. They doubt themselves, hesitate, and often skip steps that would move them forward. If you’re studying topics that show up on the OCP mental health exam, you’ll notice this idea crops up again and again. The question you might see could be framed like this: what often results from low self-efficacy in patients? And the correct answer is “Decreased likelihood of achieving goals.” Let me explain why that’s not just a test fact but a meaningful clinical pattern.

What low self-efficacy actually looks like in real life

• Hesitation before trying. If you’re not sure you’ll succeed, you’ll delay starting a task or choose the easier path instead of the one that would push you forward.

• Avoidance of difficult tasks. People might sidestep challenging situations rather than risk failure. It’s safer, you might think, to stay in the familiar rather than risk an outcome that could feel disappointing.

• Lower goal setting. When belief in one’s abilities is shaky, ambitious goals fall by the wayside. Some patients don’t set goals at all; others set watered-down targets that don’t stretch them.

• Rapid abandonment after setbacks. A stumble can feel like a verdict. The natural reaction becomes giving up or cutting losses rather than adjusting the plan and trying again.

• Less effort and persistence. If a person expects failure, they often invest less energy in the task, which sadly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Think of it like a self-sabotaging loop. The expectation of not succeeding leads to reduced effort. The reduced effort then makes success less likely, which reinforces the belief that they’re incapable. It’s a cycle that isn’t just about “willpower.” It’s about how beliefs shape action, and action shapes outcomes, and in mental health, outcomes matter a lot.

Why this matters beyond the test question

Low self-efficacy isn’t just a neat multiple-choice concept. It’s a real driver of mental health outcomes. When people doubt their capabilities, they’re more prone to symptoms like anxiety and mood disturbances because the world feels less navigable. If you’re a clinician, recognizing where low self-efficacy is at work helps you tailor interventions. If you’re a student preparing for the exam, understanding this pattern makes you less likely to treat it as a dry fact and more as a phenomenon you could observe in a client.

High self-efficacy: what it looks like when belief meets behavior

If low self-efficacy dampens motivation, high self-efficacy lights a different path:

• Increased motivation and persistence. Belief in one’s ability to succeed fuels effort, even when the road gets rocky.

• More effective coping strategies. People with higher self-efficacy tend to try a range of approaches to overcome obstacles, rather than sticking to the same method that isn’t working.

• Greater emotional resilience. They bounce back from setbacks with a plan, not a defeatist attitude.

• Better goal setting and achievement. They set challenging yet attainable goals and keep adjusting their plans as needed.

Those aren’t just buzzwords. They translate into better functioning across daily life—from sticking with a treatment plan to handling stress at work or school.

Bringing the concept into clinical practice (in a practical, not abstract, way)

Here’s the practical part you can put to use, whether you’re studying or working with clients. It centers on mastery experiences, social modeling, and supportive feedback—three levers Bandura highlighted as key to boosting self-efficacy.

• Start with small wins. Break big tasks into tiny, achievable steps. Each success is a little evidence that “I can do this.” Over time, those wins compound.

• Create clear, doable goals. Specific, measurable goals give people a roadmap. Instead of “get better at managing stress,” try “practice a 5-minute breathing exercise three times this week.”

• Use gradual exposure. When fear or anxiety is in play, gradual exposure helps people build competence. A slow, steady climb beats a big leap that might crash and burn.

• Model the behavior. Observing others succeed can be powerful. If a patient sees a peer managing a similar struggle, it becomes believable that they can do it too.

• Offer constructive feedback. Praise effort, strategy, and progress, not just outcomes. The message matters: your effort matters, your strategy matters, and you’re moving forward.

• Address physiological cues. Sleep, nutrition, and movement can influence how capable a person feels. A little lifestyle adjustment can reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.

• Reframe setbacks. Turn a stumble into information—what needs to change, what can stay the same, and what small adjustment would help next time.

These aren’t abstract tools. They map directly onto what you might see in charts, case notes, or conversation with someone you’re helping. And they align with the exam’s core aim: recognizing how beliefs about one’s abilities shape actions and, in turn, outcomes.

A quick, student-friendly takeaway

If you’re looking for a one-liner to anchor your understanding, here it is: low self-efficacy makes people less likely to push for goals, which lowers the odds they’ll reach them. High self-efficacy shifts the balance toward action, persistence, and better coping. The line between the two isn’t just mindset. It’s behaviors, decisions, and the everyday choices that either close doors or open them.

A few practical examples to keep in mind

• A student with low self-efficacy about math may avoid practicing, settle for imperfect study habits, and miss opportunities to improve, leading to a weaker grade or slower progress.

• A patient trying to quit smoking might believe they’ll fail, skip support resources, and end up back at baseline. With a small, manageable plan and encouragement, that belief can shift.

• A professional facing a tough presentation may delay preparing, fear judgment, and shy away from opportunities. Skill-building, rehearsal, and positive feedback can gradually rebuild confidence.

How to study this concept without feeling overwhelmed

• Tie the concept to real-world observations. When you see a patient or someone you know facing a barrier, ask, where does self-efficacy fit in? Is the barrier about belief, behavior, or both?

• Use contrasts. List traits of low vs high self-efficacy and jot quick examples. The contrast makes the concept stick.

• Create a mini-checklist for assessment. If you’re evaluating a client, consider questions like: What goals has this person set recently? What steps did they take? How did they react to a setback? What supports could enhance their sense of capability?

• Think like a clinician, not just a student. The aim is to translate belief into action. That bridge—between “I can do this” and “I did this”—is where progress lives.

A few digressions that still connect back

Maybe you’ve felt this in your own life: a project, a hobby, a new routine. The first few steps feel heavy, then they start to feel manageable, and suddenly you’re not just finishing the task—you’re building a little confidence bank. That’s self-efficacy in motion. In mental health care, this same momentum can be the difference between a patient staying idle and them moving forward step by step. It’s the quiet engine behind motivation, not a flashy spark.

Why this matters for your learning journey

Understanding how self-efficacy operates gives you more than a single correct answer. It gives you a lens to interpret behavior, a toolkit to support clients, and a way to articulate why certain interventions work. It also helps you approach study questions not as traps but as opportunities to connect theory with real-world impact.

To wrap it up

When a patient’s belief in their own abilities is shaky, the road to goals tends to stay blocked. The decreased likelihood of achieving those goals isn’t a judgment—it’s a signal. It points to an area where targeted support can make a meaningful difference. By focusing on small wins, practical skills, and supportive feedback, you can help shift that belief toward action. And that shift, in turn, can transform outcomes.

If you’re digesting this for your own learning, ask yourself: what’s one small, concrete step I can take today to build a sense of capability in a real-world task? Whether you’re applying these ideas in a clinical setting or simply thinking through them for a test, that tiny step is exactly the kind of mastery that self-efficacy loves.