Predictors of Parenting Efficacy

Predictors of parenting efficacy were examined in 448 college-educated mothers of kindergarten children. The mothers completed measures of maternal self-efficacy, child temperament, and father's child-rearing involvement. Higher parenting self-efficacy was observed in mothers of daughters, older siblings, less emotional, more active, and more sociable children, and among mothers who perceived higher levels of father's child-rearing involvement. Of the father's child-rearing involvement variables, guidance of socially appropriate language and behavior was the best predictor of mothers' parenting efficacy.