The Dynamics of Parenting Self-Efficacy in Mothers of Infants: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Open Access

Abstract

Parenting self-efficacy (PSE) is defined as the beliefs a parent holds about his or her capabilities to organize and execute the tasks related to parenting a child, and has been called the “final common pathway” in the determination of effective parenting (Teti & Gelfand, 1991). PSE is especially important among first time mothers of infants, given that the transition to parenthood is a major developmental life event that involves many challenges to one’s sense of efficacy. The current study therefore investigated three overall aims in first time mothers of infants aged 4 to 9 months (n = 155). First, we empirically tested the theoretical notions of how maternal (symptoms of depression and anxiety, perceived stress, social support, and sleep) and infant (temperament) characteristics are associated with perceptions of PSE cross-sectionally. Second, we take a novel approach to studying PSE (ecological momentary assessment) by examining it as a dynamic construct. Third, we examine how changes in a subset of maternal characteristics (symptoms of depression and anxiety, positive and negative mood, and perceived stress) are related to PSE in the moment and over time, using an intensive longitudinal design. The overall aim of these latter two aspects of the study was to develop a more nuanced understanding of how maternal affective states may be associated with parenting beliefs by examining their associations in the moment and over time. We found significant cross-sectional associations between PSE and maternal symptoms of depression, stress, and the negative affect and effortful control domains of infant temperament. The EMA portion of the current study yielded support for PSE as a dynamic construct, such that PSE increased over the course of the day and over the days of the study. Variability in PSE was significantly associated with intrapersonal fluctuations in symptoms of depression and anxiety, positive and negative mood, and perceived stress in the moment and over time. 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

1.        Background and Specific Aims………………………………………………………………..1

2.        Method………………………………………………………………………………….…….17

3.        Results………………………………………………………………………………….……..27

4.        Discussion…………………………………………………………………..………….……..34

5.        References……………………………………………………………………..……….……..46

6.        Tables

Table 1……………………………………………………………………………………........61

Table 2……………………………………………………………………………….…….......62

Table 3………………………………………………………………………………….….......63

Table 4……………………………………………………………………………….…….......64

Table 5……………………………………………………………………………….…….......65

Table 6……………………………………………………………………………….…….......66

Table 7……………………………………………………………………………….…….......67

About this Dissertation

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Subfield / Discipline	Clinical Psychology
Degree	Ph.D.
Submission	Dissertation
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical
Keyword	infancy depression parenting self-efficacy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Sherryl Goodman, Emory University
Committee Members	Kaya de Barbaro, UT Austin Robyn Fivush, Emory University Michael Treadway, Emory University Jack McDowell, Emory University Hillary Rodman, Emory University

Last modified

Primary PDF

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions
	The Dynamics of Parenting Self-Efficacy in Mothers of Infants: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study ()	2020-07-08 14:39:28 -0400	Press to Select an action Download

Supplemental Files

Thumbnail	Title	Date Uploaded	Actions