Parental Self-Efficacy to Promote Children's Healthy Lifestyles: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

Peer-led alcohol intervention for college students: A pilot randomized controlled trial

This study aims to assess the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of a brief, peer-led alcohol intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in binge-drinking Spanish nursing students. A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted with 50 first-year nursing students who were randomly assigned either a 50-min peer-led motivational intervention with individual feedback or a control condition. Primary outcomes for testing the preliminary efficacy were alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. Quantitative and content analyses of open-ended survey questions were performed. Participants in the intervention condition significantly reduced binge-drinking episodes, peak blood alcohol content, and consequences compared to the control group. Principal facilitators were completing the questionnaire during the academic schedule and providing tailored feedback through a graphic report. The main barrier was the unreliability of students' initial commitment. The findings suggest that a brief motivational intervention could be effective for reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences in Spanish college students. Peer counselors and participants reported high satisfaction, indicating that the intervention is feasible. However, a full trial should be conducted taking into account the identified barriers and facilitators.

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.

The Effect of Parenting Peer Education Interventions for Young Mothers on the Growth and Development of Children under Five

One of the contributing factors in the growth and development of children under five is the mother's ability to provide childcare, but young mothers do not have enough parenting skills. The goal of the current study was to examine the effect of the parenting peer education (PPE) programme on young mothers' parenting self-efficacy and behaviour, and the growth and development of children under five. There were two groups, which were a control group (without intervention) and an intervention group, in which there were 15 participants in each group. Analysis covariance with the pre-test scores as covariates was used in this study. The results showed that, compared with the control group, the intervention group reported significantly better parenting self-efficacy, parenting behaviour, children's growth, and children's development, including cognitive, language, and motoric aspects. The PPE programme can exchange the young mothers' experiences on how their children grow and develop, and the mothers will also receive psychological support. In conclusion, the PPE programme affected the young mothers' parenting self-efficacy and parenting behaviour and the children's growth and development.

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.