title: Social support and parenting self-efficacy among Chinese women in the perinatal period.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to examine the changes in and relationship between perceived social support and parenting self-efficacy in the perinatal period among pregnant women in mainland China.
  
  
  METHODS
  this was a secondary analysis with data from part of an experimental study of the effects of an interpersonal-psychotherapy-oriented childbirth psychoeducation programme on maternal adaptation. A longitudinal design was employed in the present study. The study was carried out from July 2008 to May 2009 in one general hospital in Guangzhou, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  a convenience sample of 68 first-time mothers in mainland China completed measurement of social support and parenting self-efficacy during pregnancy and at six weeks and three months post partum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  perceived social support and parenting self-efficacy declined during early motherhood. Parenting self-efficacy increased from six weeks post partum to three months post partum. Perceived social support positively correlated with parenting self-efficacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  culturally competent health-care intervention should be developed during early motherhood to promote perceived social support and parenting self-efficacy for the new mothers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, 74#, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou 510089, China. Electronic address: gaoll@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Ling-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: skeko@163.com.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: nurcwcs@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Sally Wai-Chi
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Chinese; Midwifery; Parenting self-efficacy; Social support