Predictors of Self-Efficacy in a Norwegian Battalion Prior to Deployment in an International Operation

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to explore the relevance of 4 proposed predictors of self-efficacy (Jerusalem & Schwarzer, 1986 Jerusalem, M., & Schwarzer, R. (1986). Selbstwirksamkeit [Self-efficacy]. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.), Skalen zur Befindlichkeit und Persönlichkeit (pp. 15–28). Berlin: Freie Universität, Institute für Psychologie. [Google Scholar]; Leganger, Kraft, & Røysamb, 2000 Leganger, A., Kraft, P., & Røysamb, E. (2000). General and task specific self-efficacy in health behavior research: Conceptualization, measurement and correlates. Psychology and Health, 15, 51–69.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) in a Norwegian Infantry Battalion preparing for a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (N = 482). A hierarchical regression model was computed, and the 4 proposed predictor variables were entered in the following ranked order: (a) personal experience, (b) military skills and abilities, (c) risk perception, and (d) coping style. The individual’s evaluation of military skills and abilities proved to be the dominant predictor of self-efficacy (R2 = 36%). In addition, experience from previous missions in international operations (R2 = 3%) and task-focused coping style (R2 = 5%) came out as significant predictors. The fact that personal experience from previous military missions abroad, life-threatening incidents, and military service in general had little or no predictive power could question the general assumption of a linear relationship between personal experience and readiness. In a military unit, facing the unpredictability of military peacekeeping and peace-enforcing operations, beliefs in military skills and abilities seem to be the dominant factor when evaluating self-efficacy. These findings suggest the importance of realism in training and preparations aimed at specific scenarios and situations expected in the mission area to ensure realistic coping expectations.

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