Exploring the relationship between mothers' competence and comfort in sexual and reproductive health discourse with adolescent girls and its related factors.

OBJECTIVES: The mothers-adolescent discussion regarding sexual and reproductive health (SHR) issues plays an important role in preventing negative outcome associated with sexual risk behaviors. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between mothers' competence and comfort in SHR discourse with adolescent girls and its related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 160 mothers from July to September 2020. Data were collected through questionnaires covering demographic characteristics, Mother's Comfort in Sexual Discourse (MCSD), Mother's Interest in Sexual Discourse (MISD), and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC). The collected data were analyzed using simple and multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: The mean scores for MCSD, MISD, and PSOC were 45.49±16.15 (13-78), 7.9±4.2 (0-13), and 64.07±9.44 (45-94), respectively. The primary topics of mother-adolescent discourse on SRH were menstruation (5.61±0.98) and the delivery process (4.55±1.57). The mean age for "sex talks" and age-appropriate "sex talks" with daughters was 11.76±1.85 (range: 6-15) and 17.05±1.86 (range: 14-23) years, respectively. Significant associations were found between MCSD and MISD (ß=0.482, p<0.0001), PSOC (ß=0.223, p<0.005), self-efficacy (ß=0.202, p<0.011), mother's job (ß=0.185, p<0.019), mother's education (ß=0.173, p<0.029), and father's age (ß=0.161, p<0.042). After adjusting for other variables, major influencing factors on MCSD included MISD (ß=0.487, p<0.0001), self-efficacy (ß=0.143, p<0.039), satisfaction (ß=0.169, p<0.015), daughter number (ß=-0.235, p<0.014), son number (ß=-0.219, p<0.024), birth rank (ß=0.263, p<0.008), and residency (ß=0.172, p<0.014). CONCLUSIONS: MISD, PSOC, and certain demographic characteristics emerge as significant factors influencing MCSD in mother-daughter sexual discourse. As such, it is imperative to consider these determinants when devising strategies to maintain and enhance the sexual health of teenage girls.

The Parenting Sense of Competence scale: Updating a classic.

BACKGROUND: The Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) is a self-report measure of parenting efficacy and satisfaction that is widely used by researchers and clinicians in many countries. Despite its popularity, there have been some criticisms of the instrument. The aims of the current study were to identify and address shortcomings of the PSOC and to produce a revised measure that reflected the original constructs and that demonstrated robust psychometric properties. METHODS: The researchers examined the original PSOC and proposed changes to overcome identified issues. A sample of 3056 Australian mothers provided data for the revised instrument's factor structure and psychometric analyses. RESULTS: We identified a number of problems with the original instrument, including factorial inconsistency, and multipart or potentially ambiguous questions. Of particular concern was the fact that all negatively worded items load onto one subscale and all positively worded questions load onto the other subscale. In addressing these issues, we produced a 16-item instrument (the Parenting Sense of Competence-Revised; PSOC-R) with strong internal consistency, excellent test-retest reliability and good evidence of construct validity including factorial validity and criterion-related validity. CONCLUSIONS: The PSOC-R maintains the intent of the original measure in assessing parenting Efficacy (10 items) and Satisfaction (6 items). It represents improvements in item construction including reductions in complexity, with no multipart items and a lower reading level requirement than previously. Data across four child age groups enhance the instrument's clinical utility.

The Effect of Virtual Education in Parenting Skills on the Parenting Sense of Competence in First-time Mothers with a 0-2-year-old Baby: A Quasi-experimental Study.

Background: Parental competence is a key aspect of parenting. Since they have no previous experience of having a baby, first-time mothers should acquire certain skills to be competent enough in caring for their baby. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of virtual education in parenting skills on the parenting competence of first-time mothers with a 0-2-year-old baby. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted through convenience sampling; 72 first-time mothers were selected from 12 healthcare centers, 62 of whom met the criteria for entering the study, and divided into an experimental (n=31) and a control (n=31) group. The mothers in the experimental group received virtual education in parenting skills in six sessions, each lasting 10 minutes for two weeks. The data were collected using a demographics questionnaire and Gibaud-Wallston's parenting sense of competence scale. Sense of competence was assessed in three stages: before, immediately after, and one month after the completion of the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS v. 22 at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: Results showed a statistically significant increase in the experimental group's parenting competence mean score immediately and one month after the intervention (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of the study groups as measured immediately after (P=0.043) and one month after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion: Virtual education of parenting skills could have a positive impact on the mothers' parenting competence. It is suggested that first-time mothers should be educated in parenting skills on a face-to-face basis in maternity wards and online after discharge.

The association between perceived social support and parenting self-efficacy among parents of children aged 0-8 years.

Strengthening social support has been recognized as a potentially effective strategy to enhance parenting self-efficacy, but empirical evidence is limited. This study examined the association between perceived social support and parenting self-efficacy.Data of 647 parents of children aged 0-8 years, gathered in the CIKEO cohort study in the Netherlands, were analysed. Data were collected between October 2017 and December 2019. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between social support and parenting self-efficacy. The mean age of the participants was 33.8 years (SD = 4.9); 94.9% mothers. At the start of the study, 15.1% parents perceived low to moderate social support. Parents who experienced lower levels of social support at the start of the study reported lower parenting self-efficacy at follow-up (ß: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.21), independent of potential socio-demographic confounders. Experiencing an increase in perceived social support during the study period was associated with an increase in parenting self-efficacy (ß: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.21). Our findings indicate perceived social support is associated with parenting self-efficacy among parents of children aged 0-8 years. Future longitudinal studies need to confirm our findings and may examine which social support interventions are effective in strengthening parenting self-efficacy.

Factors related to parenting styles of Chinese mothers of children with and without intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Parenting styles play a crucial role in children's development. However, approaches to parenting children with intellectual disability (ID) beyond Western cultures have been underexamined. This study compared the self-reported parenting styles of Chinese mothers of children with and without ID and examined some factors that might be related. METHODS: Chinese mothers of children with ID (n = 173) and mothers of typically developing children (n = 119) completed measures of their parenting style, parenting stress, parenting sense of competence and family support. RESULTS: Both groups endorsed similar levels of authoritative parenting, but mothers of children with ID were more likely to report adopting strategies aligned with authoritarian parenting. For mothers in the ID group, family support moderated the effects of parenting stress and parenting sense of competence on authoritative parenting. Parenting stress and parenting sense of competence, respectively, predicted authoritarian parenting for mothers of children with and without ID. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of reducing parenting stress, strengthening parenting sense of competence and providing family support in order to promote optimal parenting styles for Chinese mothers of children with ID.

Parental Resources in Parents of Children with Special Needs (SNs) at the Time of COVID-19.

Background. The limitations imposed by governments for containing the spread of COVID-19 have affected familial relationships, especially those of families dealing with children with special needs or chronic illness conditions. The current study aims to better understand what pathological/disability condition has impacted parental resources, sense of competence, and perception of children's executive functioning the most. Methods. A sample of 648 parents was asked to answer a survey assessing children's condition (typical development, specific learning disorder, autism spectrum syndrome, chronic illness), parental resources, parenting sense of competence (distinguished into parental satisfaction and self-efficacy), and parents' perception of their children's executive functioning. A MANOVA model was performed to assess differences in parental resources, sense of competence, and perception of the children's executive functions according to their condition. A path analysis model was performed to examine the impact of sense of competence and children's condition on parental resources and children's executive functions. Results. Parents with children with specific learning disorder reported lower scores of parental resources in terms of total scores, common antecedents, and specific antecedents compared to parents with typically developed children (total scores: MD = 56.45, p < 0.001; common antecedents: MD = 22.28, p < 0.00; specific antecedents: MD = 34.17, p < 0.001), parents with autistic children (total scores: MD = 62.79, p = 0.01; common antecedents: MD = 24.03, p = 0.01; specific antecedents: MD = 38.76, p = 0.02) and parents of children with chronic illness (total scores: MD = 37.42, p = 0.04; common antecedents: MD = 16.59, p = 0.01). The path analysis model shows a direct effect of parental satisfaction (ß = 0.26) and pathology/disability (ß = −0.10) on parental resources that, in turn, influence parents' perception of their children's executive functioning (ß = 0.24). Conclusion. Although no data about the prepandemic situation is available, the current study highlights that parental stress influence children's cognition. Moreover, parents of children with special needs seemed to be challenged during COVID-19, especially parents of children with specific learning disorders, that are already stressed out by their children's condition. Therefore, academic services should undertake preventive measures to preserve parental well-being and to provide a supportive environment for children, especially for those with atypical development.

Factors Associated With Parenting Stress in Parents of Children With Nephrotic Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Limited empirical studies were identified to quantify parenting stress in parents of children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). This cross-sectional study aimed to address this gap by examining the prevalence and factors associated with parenting stress. Two hundred two Chinese parents of children with NS were investigated by using the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSCS), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and a demographic questionnaire. The results showed that parents of children with NS experienced higher parenting stress, and 67.8% of participants reported clinical levels of parenting stress. Fathers, parents with a primary education background, low social support and parenting sense of competence, and children with a prolonged treatment childhood NS reported higher parenting stress. Developing corresponding improvement interventions targeting parenting sense of competence, or providing extra disease-related support and education for parents might lessen parenting stress.

Parenting sense of competence and its predictors among primiparous women: a longitudinal study in China.

BACKGROUND: Parenting sense of competence significantly affects the quality of parenting behaviours and healthy infant development. However, primiparous women without parenting experience may lack confidence and feel stress. This study aimed to explore the status of parenting sense of competence and identify its predictors among primiparous women. METHODS: A longitudinal study design was used. Primiparous women were recruited by using a convenience sample from two women's and children's hospitals in two cities in China. All primiparous women completed questionnaires on demographic characteristics, infant characteristics, family function, and parenting sense of competence at 1 month postpartum. At 3 months postpartum, each women's parenting sense of competence was re-assessed. Generalised linear regression was applied to identify the predictors of parenting sense of competence at 3 months postpartum. RESULTS: A total of 743 Chinese primiparous women were included in the analysis. The average parenting sense of competence score of the participants at 3 months postpartum was 70.18 (SD = 12.33). According to the generalised linear regression analysis, higher levels of parenting sense of competence at 3 months postpartum were significantly associated with older age (ß = 0.13, P = 0.005), better family function (ß = 0.37, P <  0.001), and higher levels of parenting sense of competence (ß = 0.35, P <  0.001) at 1 month postpartum. In contrast, lower levels of parenting sense of competence at 3 months postpartum were associated with poorer self-rated economic status (ß = - 0.16, P = 0.027), poorer infant health (ß = - 0.26, P = 0.007), and mixed or formula feeding (ß = - 0.11, P = 0.018) at 1 month postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese primiparous women have a relatively good parenting sense of competence, but there is still room for improvement. Maternal age, economic status, family function, infant health, and feeding patterns were significant predictors. To improve their parenting sense of competence, more attention should be paid to primiparous women who are young, with poor economic status, having an unhealthy infant, and mixed or formula feeding. In addition, measures should also be taken during the early postpartum period to improve family function.

Evaluation of the Polish version of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale in parents of typically developing children and children with autism spectrum disorders.

BACKGROUND: Parental self-efficacy describes parents' self-perceived competence in fulfilling their roles. The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) is one of the most commonly used self-report instruments, allowing for parental self-efficacy measurement. METHODS: This paper summarizes the results of three studies (total N = 2088) conducted to examine factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and criterion validity of the Polish version of PSOC (PSOC-PL). The studies were carried out among parents (mothers and fathers) of typically developing 14- and 15-year-olds (Study 1, n = 1404) as well as among parents of typically developing children aged 6-16 (Study 2, n = 248), parents of typically developing children and children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (Study 3, n = 436, ages ranged from 6 to 13). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (Study 1) demonstrated an acceptable fit of the theorized two-factor model, with theorized Satisfaction and Efficacy factors. The subscales' internal consistencies were satisfactory across all studies (Studies 1-3), and PSOC's test-retest reliability (Study 2) over a 3-week interval was very high. Parents of children with developmental disorders (Study 3) reported lower efficacy than parents of typically developing children. CONCLUSIONS: The results of these three studies attest that the Polish version of PSOC is a reliable and valid measure of parental self-efficacy beliefs.

[Reliability and validity of the Chinese version of parenting sense of competence scale in mothers of preschool children].

OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of parenting sense of competence scale (PSOC) in Chinese mothers of preschool children, and to explore the perception of preschool children's mothers on their own parenting skills and their comfort of being a parent in Yanqing District of Beijing. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample in 1 384 preschool children's mothers in Yanqing District of Beijing. SPSS 21.0 and Mplus 7.4 software were used for statistical analysis to test the structural validity, criterion related validity, internal consistency and split half reliability of the scale, and to analyze the score of the scale and its influencing factors. RESULTS: The PSOC had good reliability and validity. Exploratory factor analysis showed that each item of the PSOC had more than 0.4 factor loading in efficacy factor or satisfaction factor, and there was no double load phenomenon. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor loadings ranged from 0.212 to 0.843 in efficacy factor and satisfaction factor, respectively. The goodness of fit test showed that all the fitting indexes were within the acceptable range, and the correlation between the effectiveness subscale and the satisfaction subscale was high. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the whole scale, the efficacy subscale and the satisfaction subscale were 0.872, 0.802, and 0.874, respectively. The Spearman-Brown coefficient of PSOC was 0.851. The average score of the whole scale, the efficacy subscale, and the satisfaction subscale were 72.33±11.31, 35.54±5.91, and 36.79±7.11, respectively, and the score of parenting competence in Chinese mothers of preschool children was influenced by the mother's educational level and the annual income of her family. CONCLUSION: The PSOC has satisfactory reliability and validity in Chinese mothers of preschool children. It can be used as an evaluation instrument for measuring the parenting competency, self perceived efficacy and satisfaction in the mainland Chinese mothers of preschool children. The competency of preschool children's mothers in Yanqing District of Beijing is very good, which may be related to the higher education level of the mothers and the higher annual income of their families in this study.

Parenting Sense of Competence in Parents of Children With and Without Intellectual Disability.

Our study aims to examine the relationship of child's intellectual disability, parental education, employment and perceived stress with parenting sense of competence (satisfaction and self-efficacy). Three groups of parents (children without intellectual disability, children with mild intellectual disabilities, and children with moderate/severe intellectual disability) completed measures of perceived stress, parenting sense of competence and socio-demographic questions. Results show that child's intellectual disability affects parenting satisfaction but not parenting self-efficacy. Parental employment predicted parenting satisfaction, but not parenting self-efficacy, while perceived stress predicted parenting satisfaction and self-efficacy. Results further suggest that parental employment moderates the relationship of child's disability with parenting satisfaction and perceived stress. Result suggest a need for interventions aimed at supporting parents in dealing with emotional consequences of their child's disability.

Maladaptive personality styles in a clinical sample of women with postpartum depression.

BACKGROUND: Personality traits are associated with the onset and course of postpartum depression. The impact of maladaptive personality traits on mother-child bonding and parenting is less studied. Therefore, the aims of this study are to investigate: a) the frequency of maladaptive personality styles in women with postpartum depression; b) the association between personality styles and the course of maternal psychopathology; and c) the association between personality styles and mother-child bonding and parenting competence. METHODS: We examined n = 123 patients of a mother-baby unit with the Personality Style and Disorder Inventory (PSSI) at admission and instruments assessed maternal psychopathological symptoms (BSI), mother-child bonding (PBQ), and parenting sense of competence (PSOC) at admission and discharge. RESULTS: Maladaptive personality styles were frequent. Women with postpartum depression had higher scores on the schizoid, avoidant, obsessive-compulsive, negativistic, dependent, borderline, depressive, and self-forgetting PSSI scales than women of the general population. The presence of maladaptive personality styles was associated with higher psychopathology, impaired mother-child bonding, and lower parenting sense of competence at admission. From admission to discharge, women showed significant improvements on psychopathology, bonding and parenting irrespective of the presence of maladaptive personality styles. However, mothers with maladaptive personality styles still had higher psychopathology and impaired mother-child bonding at discharge compared to mothers with normal PSSI scores. LIMITATIONS: Data is based upon a clinical sample of women hospitalized in a mother-child unit. Results are not representative for all women with postpartum depression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underline the need for early identification of maladaptive personality styles and for the adequate treatment and monitoring of women with postpartum depression. It can be anticipated that women suffering from maladaptive personality styles will need ongoing care to prevent long-term negative outcomes.

Measurement of Parenting Self-efficacy Among Female HIV-Affected Caregivers in Uganda.

OBJECTIVES: Parenting self-efficacy has been associated with positive parenting behaviors, fewer parental mental health problems, less family dysfunction, and better child development outcomes. The parenting sense of competence (PSOC) scale is commonly used to measure parenting self-efficacy in high-resource settings. This study sought to examine the factor structure, internal consistency, and convergent construct validity of the PSOC in a sample of predominantly HIV-infected women in Uganda. METHODS: Using data from 155 HIV-affected caregivers who participated in a randomized controlled trial of a parenting intervention, two and three factor models of a 16-item translated version of the PSOC were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Multivariable regression models were used to examine relationships between parenting confidence (operationalized using the best-fitting PSOC model), caregiver mental health symptoms (depression and anxiety), social support, family dysfunction, and family wealth, after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Neither the two- nor three-factor models of the PSOC demonstrated adequate model fit; however, adequate model fit was demonstrated for a one-factor model that included only items from the PSOC efficacy subscale. Cronbach's alpha was 0.73 for this subscale. Correlates of parenting self-efficacy in this sample included caregiver depression, family dysfunction, and family wealth, but not caregiver anxiety or social support. CONCLUSIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings lend support for future use of the PSOC efficacy subscale among HIV-affected caregivers of children in low-resource settings such as rural Uganda.

Perceived Collective Efficacy and Parenting Competence: The Roles of Quality of Life and Hope.

Parents' perceptions of their parenting competence predict successful implementation of parenting tasks and contribute to their interest and involvement in parenting and to their children's development. Thus, identifying factors that contribute to parents' perceptions of parenting competence can help inform efforts to promote children's safety and well-being. The present study employs social disorganization theory to examine the relationship between collective efficacy and parents' sense of competence, measured along two dimensions: parental efficacy and parental satisfaction. It examines the direct association between the two constructs and whether the association is mediated by parent perceptions of their quality of life (QOL) and sense of hope. Data were collected from 198 parents residing in a neighborhood in southern Tel Aviv, Israel. The analyses indicated that high collective efficacy was directly associated with high parental efficacy, but not with high parental satisfaction. Using structural equation modeling, a mediation model was found whereby higher collective efficacy was associated with (a) higher QOL, which in turn was related to a greater sense of hope, which was linked with higher parental efficacy; and (b) higher QOL, which was directly associated with higher parental satisfaction. The findings provide further support to the idea that neighborhood characteristics play an important role in parents' ability to care for their children.

Las percepciones de los padres de su competencia en la crianza predicen la implementación satisfactoria de las tareas de crianza y contribuyen a su interés y participación en la crianza y al desarrollo de sus hijos. Por ende, los factores identificadores que contribuyen a las percepciones de los padres de su competencia en la crianza pueden ayudar a orientar las iniciativas para promover la seguridad y el bienestar de los niños. El presente estudio emplea la teoría de la desorganización social a fin de analizar la relación entre la eficacia colectiva y la percepción de competencia de los padres evaluadas en dos dimensiones: la eficacia parental y la satisfacción parental. Además, examina la asociación directa entre los dos constructos y si la asociación está mediada por las percepciones de los padres de su calidad de vida y su sensación de esperanza. Se recopilaron datos de 198 padres que viven en un barrio del sur de Tel Aviv, Israel. Los análisis indicaron que una eficacia colectiva alta estuvo directamente asociada con una eficacia parental alta, pero no con una satisfacción parental alta. Utilizando modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, se descubrió un modelo de mediación por el cual una eficacia colectiva más alta estuvo asociada con (a) una calidad de vida más alta, la cual a su vez estuvo relacionada con una mayor sensación de esperanza, que estuvo ligada con una eficacia parental más alta; y (b) una calidad de vida más alta, que estuvo directamente asociada con una satisfacción parental más alta. Los resultados ofrecen mayor respaldo de la idea de que las características de un barrio desempeñan un papel importante en la capacidad de los padres para preocuparse por sus hijos.

An Exploratory Study of Autism Traits and Parenting.

The study examined the association between autism traits and parenting when raising a typically developing (TD) child, and differences in parenting needs between parents with high and low traits. Fifty-eight parents with a blood relative with Autism (who happened to be an offspring with ASD in all cases) and a TD child completed the Autism Quotient, demographic and psychological information, as well as reporting on Parenting Sense of Competence, the Parent-Child Relationship, and Parenting Needs. Autism traits did not uniquely contribute to parenting self-esteem, but were associated with parenting difficulties for their TD child, and some aspects of this parent-child relationship. Parents with high autism traits reported more parenting difficulties than parents with low traits. The study identified specific aspects of parenting needing support to assist parents with high autism traits prosper in their parenting role.

Fatigue and physical activity: Potential modifiable contributors to parenting sense of competence.

OBJECTIVES: Parenting sense of competence, as measured by the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSCS), is defined as one's levels of satisfaction and self-efficacy experienced in the parenting role. Previous studies have identified significant associations among PSCS scores and a host of parenting characteristics predictive of child outcomes. Existing approaches to improving parenting sense of competence focus on developing parenting knowledge and skills; however, other modifiable contributing factors to parenting sense of competence may exist. We examined associations among fatigue, physical activity, and parenting sense of competence in a community sample of female primary caregivers of young children (N=137) recruited from a university-based pediatric primary care clinic. METHODS: Participants completed measures of child disruptive behavior disorders, parent fatigue, and parent physical activity level. Parenting sense of competence was measured with the 16-item PSCS. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 32 years (SD=8 years), and most were non-Hispanic (87%) and White (70%). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant independent associations of fatigue (ß=-0.19, p=.02) and physical activity level (ß=0.20 and ß=0.25, p<.05) with parenting sense of competence, controlling for child disruptive behaviors, child age, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: In this non-clinical sample of mothers of young children, the significant relationships among fatigue, physical activity level, and parenting sense of competence could suggest potential targets for preventive intervention.

Mother-infant interaction quality and sense of parenting competence at six months postpartum for first-time mothers in Taiwan: a multiple time series design.

BACKGROUND: For first-time mothers, not knowing how to interact with newborn infants increases anxiety and decreases the quality of the parent-infant interactions. A substantial lack of interactional knowledge can ultimately limit the adjustments necessary for a stable transition into motherhood. This study investigated how postpartum parenting education influenced first-time mothers' mother-infant interaction quality and parenting sense of competence. METHODS: Eighty-one healthy first-time-mother and infant dyads were recruited. The control group (n = 40) received postpartum care based on the medical and cultural norms practiced in Taiwan, while the experimental group (n = 41) received, on top of typical care, education by way of a 40-min videotape on infant states, behaviors, and communication cues, as well as a handout on play practices. Data were collected at five points: within the first week, and during follow-ups in the first, second, third, and sixth months after birth. We administered the Chinese versions of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale, and used the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale to score videotaped mother-infant interactions. RESULTS: We observed an increase in the quality of mother-infant interaction within the experimental group only. Furthermore, at the five assessment points, we observed no significant changes in perceived parenting competence. Among all subjects, there were correlations between postpartum depression scores, parenting competency, and quality of mother-infant interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that first-time mothers in Taiwan who are provided with extra education on infants' abilities and how to effectively play with infants are likely to exhibit improvements in quality of interaction.

Examining the Relationship Between Parent and Child Psychopathology in Treatment-Seeking Veterans.

This study aimed to examine: (1) the relationship between parental psychopathology and child psychopathology in military families and (2) parenting sense of competence as a mediator of the relationship between veteran psychopathology and child psychopathology. As part of their standard clinical evaluations, 215 treatment-seeking veterans who reported having a child between the ages of 4 and 17 were assessed for psychopathology (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and stress), their sense of competence as a parent, and their child's psychopathology (internalizing, externalizing, and attentional symptoms). A path analysis model examining parenting sense of competence as a mediator of the relationship between veteran psychopathology and child psychopathology showed significant indirect effects of veteran depression on all child psychopathology outcomes via parenting sense of competence. Parental sense of competence may be a critical mechanism linking veteran depression and child psychopathology, and may therefore be an important target for intervention.