Self-efficacy theory maintains that self-efficacy expectancy, a belief about one's ability to perform a behavior successfully, is independent of outcome expectancy, a belief about the likelihood of the behavior leading to a specific outcome. To examine this hypothesis, subjects (N=95) read communications that differed in descriptions of the…

Of the 486 single women aged 13-20 who were tested, the subjects with high self-esteem had positive attitudes toward using birth control pills, were less embarrassed about obtaining contraception, and were more effective and consistent contraceptive users. (RL)