Effects of Infant Temperament, Development, and Maternal Parenting Variables on Parenting Efficacy

The purpose of this study was to investigate which variables predicted parenting efficacy. The variables of interest were demographic variables regarding both the infants and mothers, infant temperament and development, maternal parenting knowledge, parenting belief, and parenting stress. The subjects consisted of 260 infants and mothers. Data on infant's temperament, parenting knowledge, parenting belief, parenting stress and parenting efficacy were gathered through maternal self-reported questionnaires. Furthermore, infant development was assessed by classroom teacher. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analyses. Our results indicated that infant's sociability and activity, parenting knowledge about emotional development, parenting beliefs emphasizing the role of nature in infant development, low parenting stress all predicted parenting efficacy.