There is increasing evidence of psychological factors that influence confidence and adjustment to life after stroke. Self-efficacy has been defined as an ‘individual’s belief in their own capability’ and has been found to be positively associated with mobility, activities of daily living, and quality of life and negatively associated with depression after stroke (Korpershoek et al, 2011). Self-efficacy is closely related to mood and self-esteem, and there are relations between self-efficacy and emotional states (depression, anxiety) and quality of life. [2016]
Self-efficacy may mediate self-management skills such as problem solving and goal setting and is used as an outcome measure in some self-management programmes (Korpershoek et al, 2011; Lennon et al, 2013; Parke et al, 2015; Warner et al, 2015). There is emerging evidence on the utility of changing self-efficacy to influence independence and the promotion of self-management after stroke. Self-management has been defined in various ways but many programmes refer to the ‘actions and confidence of individuals to manage the medical and emotional aspects of their condition in order to maintain or create new life roles’ (Corbin, 1998; Parke et al, 2015). Programmes mainly focus on supporting the knowledge and skills required to self-manage, and range from educational approaches to interventions to support behaviour change. [2016]