Parenting self-efficacy as a predictor of child psychotherapy outcomes in usual care: a multi-dimensional approach

Abstract

Three theorized dimensions of perceived parenting self-efficacy (Parental Connection, Psychological Autonomy, and Behavioral Influence) were used to predict psychotherapy outcomes in 271 youth (age = 4-17 years, mean age = 10.4, 42% girls) receiving routine outpatient services in a community mental health setting. We used individual growth curve modeling to examine patterns of change in self-efficacy domains and corresponding changes in parent-reported child symptoms. Parenting self-efficacy scores at pre-treatment did not predict treatment outcomes. Parenting self-efficacy scores for Parental Connection and Psychological Autonomy increased over the course of therapy, and increases in parenting self-efficacy dimensions (particularly Psychological Autonomy) were significantly associated with improvements in child symptoms over the course of treatment. Parenting self-efficacy appears to merit further study as a candidate mechanism of therapeutic change in child mental health treatment.