title: Maternal self-efficacy and associated parenting cognitions among mothers of children with autism.
abstract: Feelings of competency in the parental role, termed parenting self-efficacy, have been associated with well-being and positive parenting outcomes. Given the unique stresses inherent in raising a child with autism, parents may find it challenging to maintain a positive sense of well-being and self-efficacy. Study aims were to investigate associations between maternal self-efficacy and parenting cognitions among mothers of children with autism. Mothers (n = 170) completed questionnaires on paper or via the Internet. In a hierarchical linear regression, depression, parenting stress, agency, and guilt each accounted for unique variance in maternal self-efficacy when controlling for time since diagnosis and the presence of a second child with a disability. Autism knowledge was not associated with parenting self-efficacy. Self-efficacy appears to be associated with well-being, agency, and feelings of guilt among mothers of children with autism. Parent- and family-based interventions designed to support parental well-being and focusing on parenting cognitions may enhance parenting self-efficacy.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Psychology Department, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires