Social Support, Family Empowerment, Substance Use, and Perceived Parenting Competency during Pregnancy for Women with Substance Use Disorders.

BACKGROUND: Parenting self-efficacy has been linked to positive parent and child outcomes however, little research exists on factors that influence parenting self-efficacy among pregnant women with substance use disorders. OBJECTIVES: This study explored substance use severity, social support, and family empowerment as predictors of parenting self-efficacy among pregnant women (N = 71) entering SUD treatment. METHODS: The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design. RESULTS: Statistically significant positive correlations emerged between social support and parenting self-efficacy as well as family empowerment and parenting self-efficacy. Family empowerment and social support were also correlated. A backward elimination regression analysis revealed family empowerment to be the strongest predictor of parenting self-efficacy. No relationships were found among substance use severity and the study variables. CONCLUSIONS: When promoting parenting self-efficacy, both social support and family empowerment are important domains to consider for treatment planning and resource development among pregnant women with substance use disorders.

Parenting self-efficacy and empowerment among expectant mothers with substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE: to describe parenting self-efficacy and family empowerment among expectant mothers with substance use disorders. DESIGN: the study employed a quantitative cross-sectional design. PARTICIPANTS: participants were 71 pregnant women with substance use disorders entering a gender-specific, substance use disorder, residential treatment facility. MEASUREMENTS: measurement tools included: the demographic data form, the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, the Addiction Severity Index, and the Family Empowerment Scale. FINDINGS: women in their third trimester reported statistically significant higher levels of both parenting self-efficacy and family empowerment than women in their first trimester. KEY CONCLUSIONS: interventions that promote parenting self-efficacy and family empowerment need to target women in their first trimester. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: midwives with specialized training in substance abuse disorders are in a unique position to bolster expectant mothers' parenting capabilities during the addiction recovery process.