Variables which predict maternal self-efficacy: A hierarchical linear regression analysis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Children with developmental disabilities tend to develop challenging behaviours. Parenting programmes that focus on behaviour management may help parents address these difficult behaviours by increasing parenting self-efficacy. However, the literature on parenting self-efficacy is still limited due to measurement variability in conceptualization and operationalization of the construct, and heavy reliance on cross-sectional data. METHOD: This study utilized hierarchical linear regression to examine the predictors of parenting self-efficacy in 284 mothers who attended a parenting programme in a hospital's Department of Child Development in Singapore. RESULTS: Our model was able to explain 37% of variance in parenting self-efficacy. After controlling for general stress and specific parenting hassles, the programme was still found to be effective in improving mothers' parenting self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Results are discussed in terms of their implications for developing a model for parenting self-efficacy, and possible improvements to be made on the parenting programme.