Self-efficacy, Locus of Control & Life Satisfaction in Northern Ireland, 2019/20

The Executive Office (TEO) today published figures for Northern Ireland for 2019/20 for three metrics:

• Self-efficacy is defined as a person’s belief about their capabilities to exercise influence over events that affect their lives. It is presented as an overall score, with a minimum of 5 and maximum of 25. A score from 5-17 indicates low self-efficacy and a score from 18-25 represents high self-efficacy
• Locus of control explains the degree to which a person feels they have control over their life.  It is presented as an overall score, with minimum of 5 and maximum of 25. A lower score indicates a more external locus of control, i.e. a belief that outside factors shape one’s life, and a higher score indicates a more internal locus of control, i.e. a belief that the individual has control over their own life.
• Life satisfaction relates to an individual’s satisfaction with their life overall. It is presented as a score, with a minimum of 0 (not at all satisfied) and a maximum of 10 (completely satisfied).

Key Findings

Self-efficacy

• At 19.3, the 2019/20 estimate for average (mean) score is not significantly different to the average in 2018/19.

Draft Programme for Government and Northern Ireland Civil Service Outcomes Delivery Plan

• The report provides data for two population indicators included in the outcomes framework underpinning the draft Programme for Government and the Northern Ireland Civil Service Outcomes Delivery Plan:
  • Confidence (as measured by self-efficacy) – This indicator is measured by the proportion of individuals in Northern Ireland aged 16 and over with low self-efficacy.

Latest position: In 2019/20, 19.4% of individuals aged 16 and over in Northern Ireland had low self-efficacy. This represents a significant decrease from the 2014/15 baseline year (24.3%).

• Confidence of the population aged 60 years or older (as measured by self-efficacy) – This indicator is measured by the proportion of individuals in Northern Ireland aged 60 and over with low self-efficacy.

Latest position: In 2019/20, 20.8% of individuals aged 60 and over in Northern Ireland had low self-efficacy. This represents a significant decrease from the 2014/15 baseline year (27.4%).

Locus of control

• At 17.1, the 2019/20 estimate for average (mean) score is not significantly different to the average in 2018/19.

Life satisfaction

• At 7.8, the 2019/20 estimate for average (mean) score is not significantly different to the average in 2018/19.

Different sections of society

• For all metrics, statistically significant differences were found when comparing groups from each of the following seven breakdowns: Age, Deprivation, Employment status, Health, Disability, Marital status and Local Government District.
• Notably, the largest proportions of people with low self-efficacy (both among the population aged 16+ and among those aged 60 and over) were found among those reporting bad / very bad health and this group also had the lowest mean scores for self-efficacy, locus of control and life satisfaction.

Publication

The report is available on the Executive Office’s website via the Statistics and Research section.

Notes to editors: 

1. Further information relating to the collection and production of the statistics can be obtained by contacting:
   
   PfG Analytics
   The Executive Office
   Castle Buildings
   Stormont Estate
   Belfast
   BT4 3SR

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