Neuroplasticity Knowledge and Perceived Self-Efficacy in Western Adults: A Qualitative Examination

Abstract

Self-efficacy is described as people's beliefs regarding their capabilities to produce designated levels of performance that affect their lives and is considered important for self-regulation of mental health disorders. Biofeedback has demonstrated that knowledge of one’s physiology can help regulate mental health disorders, such as anxiety (McKe, 2008). Neuroplasticity is defined as the capacity for the brain to rewire its structure and create new neural pathways to make up for lost functions due to brain injury. There is limited research in how neuroplasticity can be used as an agent for behavioral change. This qualitative study examined if knowledge of the brain’s malleability may affect adults’ perception of self-efficacy in recovery from evolutionary-based mental health disorders, with an aim to lay a foundation of general themes for further quantitative studies. Following 12 interviews, themes were recorded regarding perceived self-efficacy at time points during mental health recovery from an adult group who was knowledgeable about neuroplasticity versus a group that wasn’t knowledgeable. In addition to other differences, the Superordinate theme of will was mentioned 64 times across the Knowledgeable group, versus only 11 times in the Non-knowledgeable group. As variations between the groups were perceived, future quantitative research may determine if educational programs can assist adults who are turning to self-regulation as a means of recovery from said afflictions.