Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
19:15
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Prematurity and parental self-efficacy: the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist
Claire Pennell1, Koa Whittingham, Roslyn Boyd
1School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Australia.
Infant Behavior & Development
|September 18, 2012
Summary
Parental self-efficacy in parents of preterm infants was assessed using a new, validated measure. Contrary to expectations, preterm infants' parents showed similar self-efficacy and psychological symptoms compared to term infants' parents.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neonatal Care
- Parenting Research
Background:
- Limited research exists on parental self-efficacy in parents of preterm infants.
- Existing measures of parental self-efficacy lack domain specificity and theoretical grounding for this population.
- Parental self-efficacy is crucial for navigating the challenges of parenting preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare parental self-efficacy in parents of term, preterm, and very preterm infants.
- To develop and validate a domain-specific measure of parental self-efficacy for preterm infants.
- To investigate whether parental self-efficacy mediates the relationship between psychological symptoms and parental competence.
Main Methods:
- Development and validation of the Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist.
- 155 parents (very preterm, preterm, term infants) completed the new checklist and other psychological measures.
- Statistical analyses examined group differences and mediation effects.
Main Results:
- The Preterm Parenting & Self-Efficacy Checklist demonstrated adequate validity and reliability.
- No significant differences were found in overall parental self-efficacy or psychological symptoms between parents of very preterm, preterm, and term infants.
- Parental self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between psychological symptoms and perceived parental competence.
Conclusions:
- The developed checklist is a reliable and valid tool for assessing parental self-efficacy in preterm populations.
- Parental self-efficacy plays a mediating role in the connection between parental psychological distress and competence.
- Findings suggest a need for targeted support to bolster parental self-efficacy in caring for preterm infants.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is the belief in one's capacity to organize and execute actions necessary to manage prospective situations. This belief significantly influences how individuals approach goals, tasks, and challenges across different domains of life.Psychological and Educational ImpactsIndividuals with strong self-efficacy are more resilient in the face of difficulties. They are more likely to adopt effective problem-solving strategies, persist through obstacles, and regulate emotions such as...
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:24Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem: self-efficacy,...
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...