Academic persistence in university students: how is emotional self-efficacy manifested?

Abstract

The dropout rates for higher education require the implementation of actions to transform this reality. Understanding how emotional self-efficacy manifests itself in students who persist with their university education represents a starting point for this process. A qualitative study was carried out using a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach with the participation of 7 university students from Santa Marta, Colombia who were intentionally selected. The students responded to a semi-structured interview and the data collected through this tool was analyzed using a thematic analysis. The results show that emotional self-efficacy is manifested in students who persist with their univer-sity education through 5 mechanisms: self-determination, self-confidence, optimism, self-assertion and perseverance.