Parent self-efficacy mediates the impact of family intervention. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association

Self-appraisals are thought to play an important role in a number of youth problem behaviors. Self-perceived competence in the parental role may be an important mediator of family interventions. The purpose of the study described was to determine whether parental self-efficacy is causally related to effective child rearing. To do so, the authors analyzed data from several large-sample trials of a family intervention that focused on improving parent and child self-appraisals, among other outcomes. In both trials, parent self-efficacy increased significantly. Both punishment and coercive interactions declined. The role of self-efficacy as a mediator was examined through regression analyses. Baseline self-efficacy was not a significant predictor of changes in child rearing, but the baseline child rearing measure was. Across both trials and all outcome measures, changes in self-efficacy accounted for significant variance in improved child rearing. Thus, the intervention resulted in improved self-efficacy, and such changes explained improved parenting skills. (GCP) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the ori inal document