General self efficacy and perceived social support in psychiatric patients

ABSTRACT

To determine the difference between the Psychiatric patients and normal group on the variable of General Self-Efficacy and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support A between group design. Psychiatric out patients including depressive and anxiety disorders were selected. After detailed literature review it was hypothesized that, 1] Psychiatric patients would score lower on the variable of general self-efficacy as compared to control group; and 2] Psychiatric patients would score lower on the variable of perceived social support as compared to control group. The sample consisted of two groups with equal number of psychiatric patients [n 30] and normal participants [n=30]. Each group comprised of equal number of males and females. The age range of both groups was from 25 to 40 years and minimum educational level was Matric [10 years of study]. General Self Efficacy Scale1 and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale[2] were administered to assess the level of self efficacy and social support of psychiatric patients and normal group respectively, [t] test was applied to determine difference between psychiatric patients and normal group on the variable of general self efficacy and perceived social support. results showed the significant difference between Psychiatric patients and normal group on the variable of general self efficacy [t=8.132, df=58, p < .05] and perceived social support [t= 6.095, df =58, p < .05]. Findings reflect that psychiatric patients have low level of general self efficacy and perceived social support as compared to normal group