Self-Efficacy, Risk Taking Attitude and Stress Coping Behaviour Among First Born and Second Born Children

Abstract

The current research endeavors to investigate the levels of self-efficacy, risk-taking attitude, and stress-coping behaviour among children who are first born and those who are second born. A person’s self-efficacy can be defined as the specific set of beliefs that they hold, which determines how effectively they are able to carry out a plan of action in various situations. The act of engaging in an activity that exposes oneself to potential harm or risk in order to accomplish a goal is known as risk taking. Coping with stress involves making adjustments to unusual demands, also known as stressors. Participants were given Risk taking scale, The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) and Brief COPE Inventory. Participants (N = 200) of the age group 14 to 19 years were purposively selected from Palakkad district of Kerala by directly giving the questionnaires. The results obtained indicate that there is a significant difference in self-efficacy and risk taking among first born and second born children. There is no significant difference in stress coping behaviour among first born and second children. Similarly, there is a significant difference in self-efficacy and risk taking attitude but no significant difference in stress coping behaviour across gender attitude. The first-born children are found to have higher levels of self-efficacy and risk-taking attitude compared to the second-born children. Among the first-born children, males demonstrate a higher level of self-efficacy, while females demonstrate a high level of risk-taking attitude. The findings of the study provide evidence that gender does not affect the level of stress coping among first born second born and also across gender. Self-efficacy , risk taking attitude and stress coping behaviour are to be cultivated among first born and second born for greater determination towards the future Strong sense of self-confidence, self-evaluation, self-awareness, willingness to take risks or step outside from comfort zone, ability to solve tough or challenging problems and resilient.