How does self-efficacy affect jealousy in friendship?

As an independent undergraduate researcher at Wesleyan University,Under the guidance of Professor Patricia M. Rodriguez Mosquera, the director of Culture Emotion and Social Image Lab at Wesleyan University, I had the opportunity to explore how self-efficacy affects jealousy in friendships. This experience was not only intellectually stimulating but also incredibly rewarding, as I was responsible for every aspect of the research process—from conceptualizing the study to analyzing the data.

One of the key components of the project was developing and adapting the Self-Liking and Self-Competence Scale (SLCS) to measure self-efficacy. I also designed measures to assess emotional and behavioral responses to threats in friendships, as well as coping strategies. Creating these measures was a process that challenged me to think critically about how to capture the complexity of human emotions and behaviors in response to jealousy. I found this part of the project particularly engaging because it involved tailoring existing psychological tools to fit the unique context of my study.

Once the measures were finalized, I used Qualtrics to design and launch the questionnaires. Later, applying Pearson’s r and factor analysis in SPSS, I examined the relationships between self-efficacy, jealousy, and coping strategies. Results show  a mix of positive and negative emotions and a preference for constructive strategies when friendships were threatened. Overall, this project allowed me to apply and deepen my understanding of psychological research. From designing the study to analyzing the data, I developed practical skills in research methodology, data collection, and statistical analysis.