Self-Report Measures of Parental Self-Efficacy: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature

Abstract

Parenting self-efficacy (PSE) describes a parent's belief in their ability to perform the parenting role successfully. Higher levels of PSE have consistently been shown to be correlated with a wide range of parenting and child outcomes. Consequently, many parenting interventions aim to improve PSE. PSE measurement has typically been via self-report measures. However, the wide range of available measures has resulted in their limited use, inconsistent terminology and ambiguous theoretical grounding. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the psychometric and administrative qualities of the available PSE measures and offer clarity to the terminology and the theory underpinning their use so that the future use of PSE measures can be appropriate. Eleven electronic databases were searched. Articles were included if they introduced a new measure or were psychometric evaluations of an available measure of PSE for parents of children (from infancy until 18 years of age). Thirty-four measures were identified and their psychometric and administrative qualities were examined. Overall, the quality of the available measures was varied. Whilst this review makes recommendations regarding PSE measures for parents of infants through to adolescents, some caution should be applied when choosing the most appropriate measure. The theoretical grounding of each measure was clarified so that appropriate measures can be chosen under the relevant circumstances. The implications of refinement of the available measures are discussed and further research into improving PSE measurement is identified.

Keywords: Measure; Parental; Psychometric properties; Quality.

Fig. 1

Schematic review of paper selection, based on the PRISMA guidance

Fig. 2

Age ranges of children for each measure. Note: The BAP and KPSS have been omitted because their age ranges were not identified. Measures are ordered by length of the age range, from shortest to longest

Fig. 3

The frequency of measures that were retrospectively described by Gist and Mitchell’s (1992) theoretical approach to self-efficacy. Note:Adapted from “Self-Efficacy: A Theoretical Analysis of its Determinants and Malleability” by M. E. Gist, and T. R. Mitchell, 1992, Academy of Management Review, 17(2). Copyright 1992 by Academy of Management Publications. Permission to reprint not required