Parenting Cognitions and Practices: How Parents’ Observed Use of Positive Parenting Practices Relates to their Self-Reported Use and Parenting Self-Efficacy
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Date
2021-11-23
Authors
Nolan, Kelsey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Child behavior problems are predictive of a host of negative academic, behavioral, and social outcomes (Shinn, Ramsey, Walker, Stieber, & O’Neill, 1987; Wentzel, 1993; Reinke, Herman, Petras, & Ialongo, 2008; Vitaro, Brendgen, Larose, & Tremblay, 2005). Parenting interventions have been shown to be effective for preventing and treating child behavior problems indirectly by changing parent cognitions and behavior (Piquero et al., 2016; van Aar, Leitjen, Orobio de Castro, & Overbeek, 2017). Having a better understanding of parent cognitions such as parents’ perceptions of their own parenting and their parenting self-efficacy may lead to a better understanding of what motivates parents to seek out, engage in, and benefit from parenting intervention programs.
The present study examined data from 157 parent-child dyads to investigate relations between changes in parents’ use of parenting practices, parents’ perceptions of their use of parenting practices, and parents’ views of their parenting self-efficacy. Participants included parents of young children who were assessed when their child entered kindergarten and finished second grade. Child behavior was examined as a moderator.
Results indicated that changes in parents’ observed use of positive parenting practices were not associated with changes in parents’ self-reported use of positive parenting practices. Changes in parents’ observed use of positive parenting practices were also not associated with changes in parents’ self-efficacy. Child behavior did significantly moderate the effects of observed parenting practices at Time 1 on parents’ self-efficacy at Time 2. The moderating effect was stronger for children at risk for behavior problems than for children not at risk for behavior problems. Changes in parents’ self-reported use of positive parenting practices were associated with changes in parents’ self-efficacy. Child behavior did significantly moderate the effects of parents’ self-efficacy at Time 1 on parents’ self-reported use of positive parenting practices at Time 2. The moderating effect was stronger for children not at risk for behavior problems than for children at risk for behavior problems. The significance and limitations of these findings are discussed. Implications for practitioners involved in supporting parents and recommendations for future research are outlined.