How Does Geographical Context Affect the Development of Youth Self-Efficacy

This paper reviews existing literature on the nuanced impact of geographical location on youth self-efficacy, Collective-Efficacy, and explores differences between urban and rural settings. It highlights how access to resources, cultural and environmental factors, and opportunities for resilience building vary geographically and affect young adolescents’ belief in their abilities to achieve goals. By examining the access to resources, the interplay between collective efficacy and self-efficacy, and the unique challenges and opportunities presented by different geographical contexts, this research offers a comprehensive overview of how location shapes adolescents’ belief in their abilities to achieve goals. Specifically, it highlights how urban areas, with their abundance of educational and extracurricular opportunities, foster a diverse sense of self-efficacy among youths, enabling them to engage in a variety of experiences that contribute to their self-belief. Conversely, rural settings, characterized by limited access to specialized resources, demand greater adaptability and resilience from adolescents, leading to a distinct form of self-efficacy rooted in community involvement and problem-solving.