Testing a parenting programme evaluation tool as a pre- and post-course measure of parenting self-efficacy.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study to measure changes in parenting self-efficacy after attending a parenting programme and to determine if these changes are maintained over time.


BACKGROUND
A need for the evaluation of parenting programmes from the perspective of parents who take part has led to the development of a Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy. Self-efficacy, a self-perception of one's ability to perform competently and effectively in a particular task or setting, provided the framework for the development of the tool.


METHODS
A total of 356 parents took part in the study over 53 parenting programmes in the UK in 2004-2005. Parents completed the evaluation tool as a pre- and post-course measure of parenting self-efficacy and at 4-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Parenting self-efficacy increased at the end of the parenting programmes for all scales. The increase from baseline to end of course was maintained for all scales at four month follow-up and there was a further increase for two scales. Increases in self-efficacy were found across a range of parenting programmes.


CONCLUSIONS
The tool can be used to assess the impact of different types of parenting programmes on parenting self-efficacy and in research into this topic.
Bloomfield
Linda
L
Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK. l.j.bloomfield@herts.ac.uk
Kendall
Sally
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004493:Education / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D016730:Program Development / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy