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The construct of perceived self-efficacy represents one core aspect of socialcognitive theory (Bandura, 1992, 1997). While outcome expectancies refer to the perception of the possible consequences of one’s action, perceived self-efficacy refers to personal action control or agency. A person who believes in being able to produce a desired effect can conduct a more active and self-determined life course. Healthspecific self-efficacy is a person’s optimistic self-belief about being capable to resist temptations and to adopt a healthy lifestyle. As an introduction, the relationship between self-efficacy and specific health behaviors is reviewed. A number of studies on adoption of health practices have measured self-efficacy to assess its potential influences in initiating behavior change. As people proceed from considering precautions in general to shaping a behavioral