Publication Database

Factors influencing the academic self-efficacy of veterinary students (2025)

Art

Poster

Autoren

Prior, Alina (WE 1)

Bahramsoltani, Mahtab (WE 1)

Forschungsprojekt

Akademische Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung bei Studierenden der Veterinärmedizin

Kongress

14th PhD and Doctoral Student Symposium

Berlin, Veterinarium Düppel, 18.09.2025

Quelle

Kontakt

Institut für Veterinär-Anatomie

Koserstr. 20
14195 Berlin
+49 30 838 75784
anatomie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Introduction: Self-efficacy is defined as a person's belief that they can perform actions that influence events important to their life. The aim of this study was to investigate the study-related self-efficacy of veterinary students and its relationship to personal, curricular, and institutional factors.

Materials and Methods: 10 guided interviews with veterinary students of Freie Universität Berlin were conducted, transcribed and coded with qualitive content analysis using MAXQDA.

Results: In the context of the five literature-based sources of self-efficacy over 30 factors were found that may influence the self-efficacy of veterinary students. Most students reported that completion of academic tasks has a positive effect on their self-efficacy. They also mentioned that the observation that peers encounter similar challenges and emotions in their academic pursuits can enhance self-efficacy by fostering a sense of solidarity and shared understanding. Furthermore, they stated that their self-efficacy was positively influenced by the mental picture of future employment as a veterinarian. A negative effect on self-efficacy has been described for verbal discouragement, suboptimal learning and examination environments. In addition, locus of control was identified as an important factor influencing academic self-efficacy of veterinary students, as many students described oral exams as being subject to good or bad luck. However, despite their achievements, they do not ascribe this success entirely to their own performance, attributing it instead to factors such as good fortune with the examiner and/or the subject matter.

Conclusion: The results suggest a relation between the factors identified, self-efficacy and perception of stress. Therefore, these findings could provide a basis for the promotion of academic self-efficacy of veterinary students with a view to improving their mental health.