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Correlates of Prenatal Parenting Expectations in new Mothers: Is Better Self-Efficacy a Potential Target for Preventing Postnatal Adjustment Difficulties?

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Abstract

The extent to which a mother’s prenatal expectations are realistic or unrealistic has been associated with postnatal adjustment in first-time mothers. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations with prenatal parenting expectations to determine what makes them more or less realistic. A mediational model was developed to explain the relationships between family and social support, maternal adjustment (i.e., depression, anxiety, worry, stress, and happiness), parenting self-efficacy, and prenatal expectations. We recruited 255 first-time expectant mothers living in Brisbane, Australia. Using structural equation modeling, we found that higher levels of social and family support were associated with lower levels of maternal maladjustment, which in turn was related to higher parental self-efficacy. Finally, self-efficacy was a significant positive predictor of prenatal parenting expectations, implying that the more confident mothers are, the more realistic are their parenting expectations during pregnancy. This was a fully mediated effect. Our findings are of particular relevance for the educational and counseling services offered to pregnant mothers. Specifically, they could assist health professionals in identifying mothers who may be prone to having unrealistic expectations and prepare them for the demands and challenges of having a new baby, which may prevent poor adjustment in the postnatal period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parenting and Family Support Centre, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland Brisbane, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Mandy Mihelic & Alina Morawaska

  2. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Ania Filus

Authors
  1. Mandy Mihelic
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  2. Ania Filus
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  3. Alina Morawaska
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Correspondence to Mandy Mihelic.

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Conflict of Interest

The Triple P—Positive Parenting Program is developed and owned by The University of Queensland. The University through its main technology transfer company, UniQuest Pty Ltd, has licensed Triple P International (TPI) Pty Ltd to publish and disseminate Triple P worldwide. Royalties stemming from published Triple P resources are distributed to the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences; School of Psychology; Parenting and Family Support Centre; and contributory authors. Associate Professor Alina Morawska is a contributory author and may in future receive royalties from TPI. TPI is a private company and no author has any share or ownership in it. TPI had no involvement in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of data, or writing of this report. Mandy Mihelic is a PhD student at the Parenting and Family Support Centre. Ania Filus has no conflict to declare.

Research Involving Human Participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Mihelic, M., Filus, A. & Morawaska, A. Correlates of Prenatal Parenting Expectations in new Mothers: Is Better Self-Efficacy a Potential Target for Preventing Postnatal Adjustment Difficulties?. Prev Sci 17, 949–959 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0682-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0682-z

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