The Hidden Bond of Ego-Resilience and Self-Efficacy among Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This review examines the relationship between ego-resilience and self-efficacy among adolescents, synthesizing research on ego-resilience theory, its links to academic confidence and coping, and the family and peer factors known to shape self-efficacy. Ego-resilience, the capacity to flexibly adjust self-control in response to situational demands, and self-efficacy, the belief in one's own capacity to organize and execute actions needed for a desired outcome, are theorized to overlap through the regulation of physiological and emotional states under pressure. Across studies with adolescent and young adult samples, higher ego-resiliency consistently corresponds with steadier confidence, reduced exam-related fear, and better coping during academic assessments, outcomes that closely resemble self-efficacy even where a standardized efficacy measure was not used. A smaller number of studies measuring both constructs directly indicate that resilience-related capacities and self-efficacy tend to rise and fall together, buffering the effects of academic stress. Parallel research on parenting style and peer influence shows that the same family and social conditions associated with stronger self-efficacy are also linked to better emotional regulation and lower performance anxiety.