The Effects of Infant's Temperament, Development, Mother's Parenting Stress and Social Support on Infant Mother's Self-efficacy

Abstract

The purposes of this study was to investigate the relationship and interaction between infant temperament, development, mother's parenting stress and social support on mother's self-efficacy. Participants in this study included 1610 infants (825 boys, 785 girls) and their mothers. The major findings of this study were as follows: First, infant temperament demonstrated a direct relationship to mother's self-efficacy. Lower levels of infant temperament indicated lower levels of self-efficacy, and higher levels of infant temperament indicated higher levels of self-efficacy. Second, infant development demonstrated a direct relationship to mother's self-efficacy. Greater communicative and social interaction between mother and child demonstrated a higher level of maternal self-efficacy. Third, mothers' parenting stress demonstrated a direct relationship to mother's self-efficacy. Higher levels of parenting stress demonstrated lower levels of maternal self-efficacy. Forth, Social support demonstrated a direct relationship to mother's self-efficacy. Greater levels of social support demonstrated lower level of maternal self-efficacy. Fifth, the greatest single relationship effecting mother's self-efficacy was mother's parenting stress. This research suggests the need for development of diverse social policies and programs to help mothers reduce maternal parenting stress and support the development of positive parenting skills with the goal of boosting mother's self-efficacy.

Pathways from mothers' early social support to children's language development at age 3

“…Thus, it may not be appropriate to draw conclusions about the role of social support within one culture from research on another population. Similar to the findings in Western societies, in Korean literature, social support has been a strong predictor of parenting stress (Heo & Kim, ; Kim & Kang, ), parenting efficacy (Moon & Min, ), depression (Chun & Ok, ), parenting sensitivity (Shin & Hwang, ), and children's intellectual and socioemotional outcomes (Rhee, ). Employed Korean mothers tend to utilize greater social support compared to nonworking mothers, especially in the form of direct provision of childcare by their own parents, parents‐in‐law, or relatives (Lee & Chin, ).…”

“…Thus, it may not be appropriate to draw conclusions about the role of social support within one culture from research on another population. Similar to the findings in Western societies, in Korean literature, social support has been a strong predictor of parenting stress (Heo & Kim, 2004;Kim & Kang, 2011), parenting efficacy (Moon & Min, 2012), depression (Chun & Ok, 2011), parenting sensitivity (Shin & Hwang, 2008), and children's intellectual and socioemotional outcomes (Rhee, 1997).…”

“…It was assumed that the parental support system from the social network may in fact increase in importance over time in later toddler and preschool years, when the parents' interactions within that support system are more capable and frequent (Crnic et al, ). However, considering the importance of social support on mothers' well‐being and parenting during their children's infancy (e.g., Crnic et al, ; Haslam et al, ; Moon & Min, ; Warren, ), it is also possible that a mother's support experience when their child is an infant can have a lingering effect on later well‐being, home learning environment, or language development. Second, by using the data for Korean mothers from the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC), this study attempts to provide empirical evidence of the role of maternal social support in a different cultural context than those of Western countries.…”

Pathways from Marital Conflict, Coparenting, and Parenting Stress to Mothers’ Parenting Efficacy

“…. (Abidin, 1992;Cho & Do, 2016;Dunning & Giallo, 2012;Giallo et al, 2013;I.-H. Lee, Choi, & Song, 2013;Moon & Min, 2012;J. H. Park, 2013;Pyo, 2012;Suzuki, 2010) .…”

“…, (Y.-H. Choi & Moon, 2016;Huh & Kim, 2012; I.-H. Lee et al, 2010;Moon & Min, 2012) (Coleman & Karraker, 2003; M. J. Kim & Lee, 2011), (Son, 2010), (M.-J.…”