The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) tool: The adaptation study in the context of attachment styles and mood in the first-time mothers

Objective: Maternal self-efficacy is defined as beliefs about one’s ability to be successful in the maternal role. Studies have shown that perceived maternal self-efficacy was related to maternal depression, the perception of infant temperament, and the quality of mother-infant interactions. The purpose of this study was to conduct an adaptation study of the Turkish version of Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Tool (PMP S-E Tool). Method: For this purpose, three different study samples which were composed of the first-time mothers of full-term healthy infants were reached out. The mothers in the first sample (n=290) filled out the Turkish PMP S-E online for construct validity and internal consistency analyses. The mothers in the second study sample (n=50) filled out the Turkish PMP S-E, the CES-Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Early Close Relationships-II, and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-VSF online for criterion and predictive validity analyses. The mothers in the third study sample (n=57) filled out the Turkish PMP S-E twice, post-partum pre-test at their home and 4-month post-test at the laboratory. Results: The results of Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the four-factor structure of the original PMP S-E. The sub-scales were Care Taking Procedures, Evoking Behaviors, Reading Behaviors, and Situational Beliefs. Internal consistency values of the Turkish PMP S-E total and sub-scales were high. The results of criterion validity and test-re-test reliability provided evidence for the Turkish PMP S-E total and sub-scale scores. Predictive validity findings demonstrated that total scores of the Turkish PMP S-E were predictive of maternal life satisfaction. Conclusion: Findings provided support for the reliability and validity of the Turkish PMP S-E for the first time-mothers with infants between 0-12 months. The Turkish PMP S-E was considered to have both research and clinical utility.