Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
07:11

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling

Published on: February 5, 2019

9.6K

Parental Self-Efficacy in New Mothers Predicts Infant Growth Trajectories

Jessica S Bahorski1, Gwendolyn D Childs2, Lori A Loan2

  • 1Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA.

Western Journal of Nursing Research
|June 8, 2019
PubMed

Insights

High parental self-efficacy (PSE) in mothers is linked to excessive infant growth. This suggests a potential increased obesity risk for infants with highly confident mothers, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Parental self-efficacy (PSE) influences parenting behaviors.
  • Infant growth trajectories are critical for long-term health outcomes.
  • Early life factors can impact obesity risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between parental self-efficacy (PSE) and changes in infant weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) from 3 to 12 months.
  • To explore if PSE predicts different infant growth patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 127 low-income, African American mother-infant dyads.
  • Measurement of PSE at 3 months and infant anthropometrics at 3 and 12 months.
  • Analysis using ANCOVA, multiple regression, and post hoc tests to assess WLZ change.

Main Results:

  • Parental self-efficacy at 3 months was significantly associated with infant WLZ change by 12 months (p = .04).
  • Mothers with higher PSE showed significantly higher infant growth rates compared to those with lower PSE (Tukey-adjusted p = .03).

Conclusions:

  • Higher parental self-efficacy may be associated with excessive infant growth.
  • Infants of mothers with high PSE might face an increased risk of obesity.
  • Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.

Keywords:
childhood obesityinfant growthparental self-efficacyrace factors

More Related Videos

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

27.6K
A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect05:04

A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect

Published on: September 22, 2023

870

Related Concept Videos

Parental Care00:55

Parental Care

Many animals exhibit parental care behavior, including feeding, grooming, and protecting young offspring. Parental care is universal in mammals and birds, which often have young that are born relatively helpless. Several species of insects and fish, as well as some amphibians, also care for their young.
12.7K
Parenting Styles01:27

Parenting Styles

Diana Baumrind's four parenting styles — authoritarian, authoritative, neglectful, and permissive — each influence children's socio-emotional development differently.
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
628
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship 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...
232
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity01:23

Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity

Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth....
483
Predicting Molecular Geometry02:27

Predicting Molecular Geometry

VSEPR Theory for Determination of Electron Pair Geometries
45.5K
Self-Efficacy01:29

Self-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...
210