In this study we aim at investigating the association of the feeling of self-efficacy with academic performance, learning difficulties, gender and age of children in the early grades of elementary school. The sample was composed of 406 children (56% girls), aged 7 to 10 years, enrolled in a school in the metropolitan area of Florianópolis/SC. The instruments used were the Academic Performance Test (TDE) and Sense of self-efficacy Assessment Guide (RASAE). Statistically significant association was found between self-efficacy and academic performance for all levels of school skills and those with the best performance had higher self-efficacy (p <0.001). Regarding the results between gender, girls were more self-efficacy than boys (p <0,05). Children of different age groups (7-8 and 9-10 years) had similar levels of self-efficacy. The results suggest that actions which target the increase of self-efficacy are directed especially to boys and groups with low academic performance. This produces impacts on the motivation and school learning.
Self-efficacy; academic achievement; children