Predictors of maternal parenting self-efficacy for infants and toddlers: A Jordanian study

Parental reports of hospital- and community-based follow-up services, self-efficacy, and symptoms of depression a few months after discharge of a prematurely born child

BACKGROUND

Many parents report the transition from hospital to home as challenging after the birth of a preterm-born child. This study investigates parental perceptions of community-based follow-up services after hospital discharge, alterations in parental self-efficacy during the early months at home, the prevalence of depressive symptoms among parents, and the relationship between these factors and both NICU experiences and children's regulative behaviors.

METHODS

In this second phase of a descriptive study, 110 parents returned a digital questionnaire when their child was four months corrected for prematurity. Parents were recruited while hospitalized with their child, in one of eight Norwegian neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Thus, the study provides insight into follow-up services across a broad geographical range. Parents' perception of self-efficacy was reported on the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale, and depressive symptoms were evaluated with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Children's regulative behavior was reported on the 6-month version of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social and Emotional (ASQ: SE). Using SPSS, associations between variables were investigated in multiple regression analysis in addition to descriptive analysis. Additionally, the examination of repeated measures of parental self-efficacy involved the application of linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Parents reported improved perception of self-efficacy from postdischarge to the children's age of four months (F (1,167) = 1233.2, p < 0.001). On average, fathers' self-efficacy improved more than that of mothers. Parents' perception of being well informed prior to discharge from hospital predicted improved self-efficacy (F [1, 29] = 10.4, p = 0.003). Reports of depressive symptoms were at a similar level as previously reported among new parents, as 10.4% of mothers and 6.7% of fathers reported EPDS scores ≥ 10 points. Parents' reports on ASQ: SE show that 15% of the children scored above the recommended cutoff score for three- to nine-month-old children. The parent-reported benefit of follow-up services showed considerable variation. The importance of specific knowledge about prematurity among public health nurses and physicians was frequently mentioned, and public health nurses were perceived as coordinators and mediators of various services.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents reported improved self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms at similar levels as new parents in general, a few months after discharge from hospital. Childrens' regulatory behavior were reported at levels comparable with term-born infants.

Impact of a structured sleep education program on mothers' knowledge and attitudes toward infant sleeping

Introduction

Sleeping is necessary for the infant growth and development. Sufficient and quality of sleep can have an impact on physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Infancy is a critical time for establishing healthy habits and routines. However, many infants were suffering from sleeping issues that impact their health.

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the effect of educational programs given to mothers regarding their infants' sleep on mothers' knowledge and attitudes toward infant's sleeping.

Method

A quasi-experimental design for nonequivalent groups was used, and data was collected from 208 mothers with infants aged 5-12 months from all Jordanian governorates who had not been exposed to educational programs prior to this study. Data was collected in two stages: pre-test and post-test, with two weeks in between for both groups.

Results

The final results indicated that the educational intervention had a significant impact on mothers' knowledge over time. It was found that mothers in the intervention group had significantly higher mean of infant sleep health knowledge at follow up time compared to their baseline time (B = 0.236, P 0.001). Also, the yielded analysis showed that there was no significant change in mothers' mean attitudes toward infants sleeping over time (P = 0.011). The mothers' measured sleep health knowledge correlated positively and significantly statistically with their sleep health attitudes score (r = 0.436, P 0.010).

The Effect of Fear of Happiness as a Cultural Phenomenon on Anxiety and Self-Efficacy in the Puerperae

INTRODUCTION

Individuals who believe that experiencing positive emotions such as happiness could lead to negative results can suppress their authentic positive feelings to prevent undesired consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of fear of happiness as a cultural phenomenon among puerperal women and the effects of fear of happiness on anxiety and self-efficacy in these women.

METHOD

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the puerperal service of a hospital in Turkey between September 2021 and June 2022 (n = 287). The study data were collected through State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Scale (STAI-I and STAI-II), General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale, and Fear of Happiness Scale (FHS).

RESULTS

There was a significant relationship between STAI-II and GSE and FHS scores, which explained 43.4% (R2 = .434) of the variance (p < .001). Also, a significant relationship of GSE with working at an income-generating job, STAI-I, and STAI-II was found (p = .008, p = .040, p < .001, respectively). It was found that the puerperae who stated that they needed training on the postpartum process and baby care had high levels of fear of happiness (p = .007).

DISCUSSION

Screening puerperae in terms of fear of happiness is important for determining their psychological well-being. Health care professionals should be aware that fear of happiness as a cultural approach negatively affects anxiety and therefore self-efficacy levels of puerperae. Providing a comprehensive training to the puerperae on parenthood and self-efficacy as well as mental health support is important for them to cope with fear of happiness.

The Italian version of the "tool to measure parental self-efficacy-short form": psychometric properties of the measure and initial validation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Parental self-efficacy is recognized as a core element of the transition to parenthood process. It affects parental mental health, as well as children's psychosocial, neurodevelopmental and health outcomes since early infancy. Parents with higher parenting self-efficacy have a higher likelihood of engaging in quality parenting practices that support optimal self-regulation development in children. Our study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian TOPSE-Short Form (I-TOPSE-SF) questionnaire.

METHODS

673 Italian mothers (Mage=37.5; SD=5.7) of children aging 0 to 6 years (Mage=3.9; SD=1.7) were involved in this study.

RESULTS

Initial results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis highlighted that the fit indices of the hypothesized 6-factor structure of the TOPSE weren't satisfactory. Acceptable internal consistencies for the total score and the six dimensions of the measure were observed. Evidence for convergent and divergent validity were provided.

CONCLUSIONS

The I-TOPSE-SF could be a valuable tool to assess parental self-efficacy up to school age, but it is in need of further considerations about its measurement properties.

Impact of Mobile Technology-Enhanced Follow-Up Program for Mothers with New-Born Babies on Mothers' Anxiety, Self-Efficacy, and Infant Health

To explore the effects of mobile technology-enhanced interventions on mothers' self-efficacy, anxiety, and infant health. Quasi-experimental study. The intervention group (n=30) received mobile technology-enhanced nursing care, whereas the control group (n=30) used the hospital's routine maintenance services. Mothers' self-efficacy significantly improved, and anxiety and infant health problems (poor sucking, umbilical cord infection, and skin lesions) significantly decreased (p<0.05) in the intervention group. Mobile technology-enhanced nursing care improved self-efficacy, decreased mothers' anxiety levels, and reduced infant health problems. Mobile technology-enhanced nursing care can be integrated into clinical practice to improve maternal and infant health.

Protocol for the PLAY Study: a randomised controlled trial of an intervention to improve infant development by encouraging maternal self-efficacy using behavioural feedback

INTRODUCTION

The early infant caregiving environment is crucial in the formation of parent-child relationships, neurobehavioural development and thus child outcomes. This protocol describes the Play Love And You (PLAY) Study, a phase 1 trial of an intervention designed to promote infant development through encouraging maternal self-efficacy using behavioural feedback, and supportive interventions.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

210 mother-infant pairs will be recruited at delivery from community clinics in Soweto, South Africa, and individually randomised (1:1) into two groups. The trial will consist of a standard of care arm and an intervention arm. The intervention will start at birth and end at 12 months, and outcome assessments will be made when the infants are 0, 6 and 12 months of age. The intervention will be delivered by community health helpers using an app with resource material, telephone calls, in person visits and behavioural feedback with individualised support. Every 4 months, mothers in the intervention group will receive rapid feedback via the app and in person on their infant's movement behaviours and on their interaction styles with their infant. At recruitment, and again at 4 months, mothers will be screened for mental health risk and women who score in the high-risk category will receive an individual counselling session from a licensed psychologist, followed by referral and continued support as necessary. The primary outcome is efficacy of the intervention in improving maternal self-efficacy, and the secondary outcomes are infant development at 12 months, and feasibility and acceptability of each component of the intervention.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The PLAY Study has received ethical approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand (M220217). Participants will be provided with an information sheet and required to provide written consent prior to being enrolled. Study results will be shared via publication in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentation and media engagement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This trial was registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za) on 10 February 2022 (identifier: PACTR202202747620052).

Parenting sense of competence and its predictors among primiparous women: a longitudinal study in China

BACKGROUND

Parenting sense of competence significantly affects the quality of parenting behaviours and healthy infant development. However, primiparous women without parenting experience may lack confidence and feel stress. This study aimed to explore the status of parenting sense of competence and identify its predictors among primiparous women.

METHODS

A longitudinal study design was used. Primiparous women were recruited by using a convenience sample from two women's and children's hospitals in two cities in China. All primiparous women completed questionnaires on demographic characteristics, infant characteristics, family function, and parenting sense of competence at 1 month postpartum. At 3 months postpartum, each women's parenting sense of competence was re-assessed. Generalised linear regression was applied to identify the predictors of parenting sense of competence at 3 months postpartum.

RESULTS

A total of 743 Chinese primiparous women were included in the analysis. The average parenting sense of competence score of the participants at 3 months postpartum was 70.18 (SD = 12.33). According to the generalised linear regression analysis, higher levels of parenting sense of competence at 3 months postpartum were significantly associated with older age (β = 0.13, P = 0.005), better family function (β = 0.37, P <  0.001), and higher levels of parenting sense of competence (β = 0.35, P <  0.001) at 1 month postpartum. In contrast, lower levels of parenting sense of competence at 3 months postpartum were associated with poorer self-rated economic status (β = - 0.16, P = 0.027), poorer infant health (β = - 0.26, P = 0.007), and mixed or formula feeding (β = - 0.11, P = 0.018) at 1 month postpartum.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese primiparous women have a relatively good parenting sense of competence, but there is still room for improvement. Maternal age, economic status, family function, infant health, and feeding patterns were significant predictors. To improve their parenting sense of competence, more attention should be paid to primiparous women who are young, with poor economic status, having an unhealthy infant, and mixed or formula feeding. In addition, measures should also be taken during the early postpartum period to improve family function.

Perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy as a predictor maternal responsiveness in infants and toddlers

BACKGROUND

Maternal responsiveness seems to be necessary for a child to develop a safe attachment. However, even after many years of research on maternal responsiveness, only a few attempts have been made to find ways of promoting mother and child interaction. This study aimed at determining the association between maternal responsiveness and parenting self-efficacy variables and at identifying the factors that correlated with maternal responsiveness.

METHOD

A cross-sectional correlation study design was adopted and a convenience sampling method was used to recruit 213 mothers in Irbid city, Jordan from August to November 2019. The sample population filled in a sociodemographic and perinatal datasheet, the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) Scale and the Maternal Infant Responsiveness Instrument (MIRI).

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant relationship between maternal responsiveness and PMP S-E. Other factors; besides, self-efficacy were also found to have some correlation on maternal responsiveness (B = 1.913, P = .049). Only previous experience of caring for children (B = 9.56, P = .05).

CONCLUSION

This study found that the sociodemographic factors considered in this study had an insignificant correlation on perceived self-reported maternal responsiveness. On the other hand, it did find that PMP S-E had a significant correlation on maternal responsiveness. Healthcare professionals need to recognise these variables in their endeavours to meet the needs of mothers and their newborns.