Self-identity and self-efficacy originate from the 3,000-year-old Hindu Ahamkara philosophy, which discusses the construction of the self-concept or the false identification of the self with temporary elements like the mind, body, and material objects. Self-concept, therefore, explains the totality of opinions, perceptions, and social cues attributed to oneself. In other words, a person’s view of what they represent is a mix of their values, opinions, and beliefs. The concept of self and self-identity are often used interchangeably; however, self-concept functions as an overarching theory that describes the nuances of self-identity. Behind various self-identity behaviours are identity-based motivations, such as the need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that people who incorporate specific identities into their self-concepts tend to perform consistent behaviours that reflect those identities. In a recent study by Quaye et al (2021) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15245004211053853, it was found that both self-identity and self-efficacy significantly influence the adoption of a healthy lifestyle through the development of specific lifestyle self-identities, such as healthy eating, exercising, and regular medical screening.
Self-identity, self -efficacy and healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is seen as people’s actions to maintain behaviours that promote health, along with the reasons behind those actions and their effects. It is usually assessed in context, based on specific choices like eating healthily and exercising. The self-concept is crucial to an individual’s psychological well-being; therefore, it relates to their awareness of their qualities and limitations. People who feel good about themselves and their abilities are generally considered resilient to everyday challenges. Their positive self-concept fosters positive emotional states such as happiness, motivation, and lower anxiety. We should consider linking self-concept to behavioural traits like a healthy lifestyle, as well as other social and emotional self-concepts. Physical self-concepts (perceptions of the body) are divided into perceived physical ability and perceived physical appearance.
Perceived physical ability influences various social cognitive ideas, such as self-determination. In physical activity, for instance, perceived ability refers to the ability to perform a specific strenuous sports activity that requires energy. Similarly, perceived physical appearance motivates the intention to purchase healthy products to improve self-image. Indeed, numerous studies have demonstrated the connection between the concept of self and various healthy lifestyles, including physical activity, healthy food choices, dieting, and quitting social vices like smoking and alcohol consumption.
Self-efficacy is “people’s belief about their capabilities to exercise control over their level of functioning and over events that affect their lives”. Concerning a healthy lifestyle, self-efficacy plays a dominant role in healthy lifestyle behaviour uptake. Self-efficacy is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle that gives practical meaning to the performance of the behaviours that underlie self-identities. With all the adapted health motivations underlying self-concepts, it would take individuals with confidence in their abilities to perform the underlying health motivations. As a man thinketh, so is he; however, it takes self-resilience and the belief in one’s ability to consistently perform the healthy behaviour to sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Leeford Edem Kojo Ameyibor, PhD.
The Writer is with the faculty of Management and the Department of Marketing, University of Professional Studies, UPSA, Accra
