Exploring the Role of Self-Efficacy and Risk Perception in Birth Control Use Among Adolescents

During my research project under the mentorship of Professor Robert Ira Kabacoff, I had the opportunity to analyze a large, open-source dataset from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The dataset, which included over 27,000 participants, offered a rich foundation for investigating the relationship between self-efficacy, risk perception, and birth control use among adolescents. I worked with a subset of this data (n = 2,565), carefully preparing and cleaning it for analysis to ensure the results would be meaningful and reliable.

The research focused on understanding how self-efficacy—one’s belief in their ability to influence outcomes—related to the likelihood of adolescents using birth control during sexual intercourse, with particular attention to the moderating role of risk perception. I used SAS software to conduct a range of statistical analyses, including univariate, bivariate, and multivariate regression with interaction terms. The findings showed a significant negative correlation between self-efficacy and the likelihood of forgoing birth control, with risk perceptions moderating this relationship. Adolescents with lower risk perceptions were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, which provided important insights for designing effective public health interventions.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was the opportunity to develop my research skills from the ground up. Not only did I have to manage a large dataset, but I also had to document every aspect of my process, from decisions regarding the cleaning and preparation of the data to the assumptions I made during statistical modeling. This meticulous approach to documentation helped me understand the importance of transparency and rigor in research. I also gained valuable experience presenting my findings: I designed a research poster and created a WordPress page to share the results with the wider community at Wesleyan. This presentation was part of my broader effort to communicate complex research in an accessible, engaging way.

Through this project, I developed a deep appreciation for applied research, particularly in the context of public health. The ability to analyze data in a way that has the potential to directly impact health outcomes was a powerful experience that reinforced my commitment to this field. I became especially interested in intervention studies, which aim to turn research insights into actionable solutions that can improve people’s lives. Additionally, I realized how much I enjoy the complexities of data analysis and statistics, which are not only intellectually stimulating but also essential to crafting effective interventions.