A longitudinal examination of self-efficacy in the transition to motherhood

Abstract

Previous research consistently revealed that self-efficacy (SE) in the parenting role is critical for parenting skills and child adjustment (Jones & Prinz, 2005). The present study investigated the predictors of SE in the transition to motherhood in a sample of 113 first-time expectant mothers who were at the last trimester of their pregnancy. One hundred of them participated to the follow-up assessment at 4 months postpartum. Participating mothers reported their SE beliefs in the parenting role and depressive symptoms through questionnaires both prenatally and postnatally. Information about their perceived social support and pregnancy-specific distress in the prenatal period and infant characteristics (sex and temperament) was also obtained through self-report. The findings showed that prenatal efficacy expectations were predicted by depressive symptoms, pregnancy-specific distress and social support, specifically support from family. Likewise, social support and SE beliefs during pregnancy as well as depressive symptoms postpartum uniquely predicted postnatal maternal efficacy beliefs while infant sex and temperament did not significantly contribute to this outcome. Furthermore, the sense of SE increased from pregnancy to the postnatal period and pre-post changes in depressive symptoms predicted this increase in maternal SE. Infant temperament did not moderate the relation between depressive symptoms and parenting self-efficacy in the postnatal period. Overall, the results point out the importance of mood and social support in shaping SE beliefs of primiparous mothers. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in the context of psychological counseling in detail.