Lower Levels Of Self-efficacy Research Articles

Navigating job demands and resources in policing: the role of self-efficacy in work burnout and engagement

PurposeThis study examined the effects of job demands and resources specific to policing on work burnout and engagement, including self-efficacy’s role in expanding the job demands-resources model (JD-R model).Design/methodology/approachThe authors used survey data from 1,591 South Korean police by nationwide sampling officers in 2023. A moderation analysis was used to examine the relationships between each variable.FindingsSelf-efficacy moderates the effects of job demands and job resources on work burnout but not on work engagement. The high self-efficacy group generally exhibits lower levels of work burnout than the low self-efficacy group. The high self-efficacy group is associated with higher levels of work burnout as job demands increase and lower levels of work burnout as job resources increase. The low self-efficacy group experiences higher levels of work burnout independent of job demands and job resources than the high self-efficacy group. In the low self-efficacy group, the reduction in job burnout is very gentle as job resources increase. Also, the increase in job burnout is steep as job demands increase.Originality/valueJob resources are generally considered helpful in reducing work burnout. However, the current study highlights the necessity for delicate interventions considering self-efficacy levels.

Key Factors Supporting Nursing Students' Academic Success and Recommendations to Enhance Learning Outcomes.

Understanding the factors that contribute to nursing students' low self-efficacy and high stress levels is necessary to improve educational practices. To determine the impact of self-efficacy and demographic factors on nursing students' stress levels and academic success and to provide strategic recommendations for nurse educators. This cross-sectional study included data of 145 nursing students collected using a structured questionnaire that assesses self-efficacy, stress, and covariates. Bivariate and multivariate tests were conducted to explore potential relationships among variables. The results indicated significant relationships among self-efficacy, stress, and demographic factors. While self-efficacy levels were influenced by gender and marital status, stress levels appeared to be affected by gender, age, and the academic semester. Self-efficacy and stress among nursing students were also significantly associated. Nurse educators should develop a supportive learning environment, better mentorship programs, and effective mental health awareness to improve students' confidence and academic success.

Correlation between teacher competence and the self-efficacy of secondary school teachers

The purpose of this study was to compare the different levels of teacher competence and self-efficacy among secondary school teachers. A comparative survey method for descriptive research was used. A total of 147 secondary school teachers were selected through a random sampling method. Analysis of variance was used for data analysis. The key finding of this study is that among male and female teachers with high, moderate, and low competency levels, there are no significant differences in self-efficacy. Government teachers show no significant differences in self-efficacy with respect to their competence levels, but private teachers show an apparent pattern. Private teachers differ only in terms of high and low levels of self-efficacy; neither high nor medium self-efficacy levels differ from one another.

Fostering Self-efficacy: Understanding South African Grade 9 Students’ Confidence in their Mathematics Abilities

In poor-performing, resource-constrained education systems, such as South Africa, solutions to improve academic achievement have tended to focus on resources and cognitive factors. An area that requires more attention is the importance of non-cognitive, psychosocial factors and their relationship with academic performance. These factors are strongly associated with behaviour, playing a role in either facilitating or impeding the learning process. Understanding attitudes is therefore critical in interpreting achievement results with a view to improving them. This article used data from the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study administered to 20,829 South African students in Grade 9 to investigate the confidence these students have in their mathematics ability (their self-efficacy) and the relationship with achievement. Linear regression analysis was employed to determine: (1) the relationship between Grade 9 students’ self-efficacy and mathematics achievement in South Africa; and (2) the contextual factors that were associated with the mathematics self-efficacy of the students. The results indicate a positive correlation between students’ self-efficacy and their performance in mathematics. In addition, good teaching practices and parental involvement in school activities were associated with higher levels of students’ mathematics self-efficacy. Being female was associated with lower levels of self-efficacy. These findings have important implications for shaping educational policy and practice in the resource constrained context of South Africa, to enhance students’ self-efficacy and performance in mathematics.

Ethical self-efficacy among healthcare professionals caring for people with dementia: a brief pre- and post-report on the CARE intervention

BackgroundInterventions targeting healthcare professionals’ confidence in managing ethical issues in dementia care are limited despite documented positive effects of educational programs on staff knowledge and self-efficacy. However, inconsistencies in the literature regarding the impact of educational programs underscore the need for targeted interventions. The CARE intervention, specifically designed to enhance confidence in ethical decision-making, aims to address this gap. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the CARE intervention in enhancing the ethical self-efficacy of healthcare professionals caring for people with dementia, particularly those with initially low levels of self-efficacy.MethodsUsing a non-experimental pre-post evaluation design, the CARE intervention was administered to healthcare professionals (n = 86), measuring ethical self-efficacy pre-and post-intervention. We hypothesized significant differences in ethical self-efficacy mean scores pre- and post-intervention for all participants, particularly those with low pre-measurement scores, whom we expected to benefit most from the intervention. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests for the low pre-measurement subgroup analysis.ResultsWhile no significant change was observed in the entire sample, participants with low initial self-efficacy showed a statistically significant improvement post-intervention.ConclusionsThe CARE intervention holds promise in improving ethical self-efficacy among healthcare professionals with initial low confidence levels. Targeted interventions are essential in addressing confidence gaps in managing ethical challenges in dementia care, with implications for professional well-being and quality of care. Further research should explore long-term effects and expand sample size to enhance generalizability and sustainability of findings.

Symptoms and Psychosocial Factors on Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction in People with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases estimated to touch 9.3 million people worldwide by 2030. Motor and non-motor symptoms of PD have a debilitating effect on people with PD’s quality of life (QoL) and life satisfaction (LS). This study aims to explore the factors influencing people with PD’s lives in Ireland. Methods The sample comprised 827 participants, recruited through crowd-sourcing and snowball sampling. Participants were asked to complete a 30-minute survey online or on paper. The survey collected data on motor and non-motor symptoms, social connectedness, self-efficacy, stigma, QoL and LS. A series of linear and multiple regressions assessed the relationships between people with PD’s symptoms, psychosocial factors and their QoL and LS. Results Low self-efficacy and high levels of stigma were predictive of low QoL and LS, while low social connectedness was associated only with low QoL. Results showed reduced dexterity with hand/eye coordination, anxiety, apathy, pain and fatigue contributed to LS, whereas reduced dexterity with hand/eye coordination, shaking/tremors, stiffness of movement, freezing of gait, cognitive problems, hallucinations, apathy, compulsive behaviours, sleeping disorders, pain and urinary incontinence were contributors of QoL. Conclusion This study can provide insights into the factors influencing people with PD’s QoL and LS. Data can promote the development of therapeutic interventions targeting PD non-motor symptoms, which are often dismissed by clinicians. Finally, findings can inform the development of health and social policies and educate the general public to dissolve the stigma associated with PD.

The Relationship Between Adolescent Social Determinants Factors at the Various Parental Activities on Self-Efficacy for Choosing Healthy Foods

Background:Adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods is closely related to the incidence of obesity. According to WHO data, the obesity rate among children and adolescents increased from 18% to 19.3% between 2016 and 2021, and this rising trend is also observed in Indonesia. Understanding the factors that influence adolescents' eating habits is essential for comprehending their behavior in selecting healthy foods and designing effective interventions to promote healthier eating habits among this age group. Objective:This study aimed to determine the level of adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods and to examine the relationship between various social determinants such as gender, class, age, and parental activities and adolescent self-efficacy in selecting healthy foods. Additionally, this study tested parental activities as a moderating variable for factors significantly influencing adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods. Methods:A quantitative descriptive design was employed for this study. The population consisted of high school students, with a total of 408 respondents selected through non-probability cluster sampling. Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate, and multivariate regression statistical tests. Results:The findings revealed that 57.8% of respondents exhibited a moderate level of self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods, 35.5% showed a strong level of self-efficacy, and 6.6% demonstrated a low level of self-efficacy. Age was the only variable significantly influencing adolescents' ability to choose healthy foods, with a significance level of 0.039 (P < 0.05). Parental activities were not found to significantly moderate the relationship between age and the level of self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods. Conclusion:Age is a significant factor influencing adolescent self-efficacy in choosing healthy foods. However, parental activities do not significantly moderate the relationship between age and adolescent self-efficacy in food selection. Keywords:Adolescent, Feeding Behavior, Meals, Parents, Social Determinants of Health.

The Effect of Teachers' Level of Self-Regulated Learning and Internet Self-Efficacy on Teaching Innovation in the Constructivist Curriculum

In the era of modern education, innovation in teaching is a crucial aspect for improving learning quality. This study aims to find out the extent to which Internet Self-Efficacy (ISE) of teachers affects learning innovation in the constructivist curriculum and the extent to which Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) affects teachers in making learning innovations in the constructivist curriculum. The research method used is quantitative with a survey approach. Data was collected through a questionnaire filled out by 97 junior high school teachers in Central Java who implemented a constructivist curriculum. Based on the results of the regression analysis, it was found that in the condition that teachers have a high level of Internet self-efficacy, self-regulated learning (SRL) has a significant effect on the learning innovations that are carried out by teachers. Another condition is the influence of SRL with low teacher ISE on teacher learning innovation. In the condition of low self-efficacy levels, SRL indicators of metacognitive skills, time management, and environmental settings did not have a significant effect on teachers' learning innovation. These findings indicate that teachers with high levels of self-regulated learning (SRL) and internet self-efficacy tend to be more innovative in implementing teaching methods that are in accordance with the principles of constructivism. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of developing teachers' self-regulated learning (SRL) and internet self-efficacy skills through continuous training and professional development programs to improve the quality of teaching in constructivist curricula.

Pathways Linking Maternal Anxious Rearing Behavior, Self-Efficacy, and Moral Motivation to Cyberbullying Outsider and Defender Behavior Among Adolescents

Objectives: The term “outsider behavior” refers to the practice of not responding to cyberbullying, while the term “defender behavior” involves reacting to the perpetrator’s actions and seeking assistance from friends to support the victims. This study examined behavior mechanisms in the context of cyberbullying, focusing on the role of maternal anxious rearing behavior and the mediating roles of adolescents’ self-efficacy and moral motivation.Methods: The study participants were 234 adolescents (Mage = 13.92, SD = .96) who witnessed cyberbullying while attending middle schools in South Korea. Adolescents’ perceived maternal anxious rearing behavior, self-efficacy, moral motivation, and cyberbullying outsider and defender behavior were measured using self-reported questionnaires. Data analyses were conducted to examine descriptive statistics using SPSS and a structural equation model using AMOS.Results: The results indicated that while maternal anxious rearing behavior is not directly associated with cyberbullying outsider behavior, it is significantly associated with lower levels of cyberbullying defender behavior. Higher levels of maternal anxious rearing behavior are associated with lower levels of self-efficacy in adolescents, leading to lower moral motivation, which, in turn, is associated with an increase in cyberbullying outsider behavior. In contrast, moral motivation is not significantly associated with cyberbullying defender behavior.Conclusion: Adopting an integrated perspective, our findings underscore pathways to shaping different cyberbullying behavior in adolescents linked with their perceived maternal anxious rearing behavior, self-efficacy, and moral motivation. These findings highlight the crucial role of maternal anxious rearing behavior in practical implications, suggesting the need for effective interventions when adolescents witness cyberbullying.

Exploring physical therapists’ approach to addressing home exercise program-related low self-efficacy: knowledge, strategies, and barriers

Purpose Self-efficacy is the strongest predictor of completing home exercise programs (HEPs). How physical therapists address low levels of self-efficacy is unknown. Our objectives were to determine (1) knowledge and confidence in addressing patients’ self-efficacy; (2) strategies used to address low self-efficacy; and (3) barriers. Material and Methods Licensed physical therapists who are actively treating patients in the United States participated in our mixed-methods study consisting of: (1) a survey on knowledge, barriers, and confidence; and (2) interviews on strategies used to address low self-efficacy. Descriptive statistics were calculated on all quantitative data. Braun and Clarke’s 6-phase thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. Results All 37 participants believed that self-efficacy impacts HEP completion. The majority (72.9%) reported addressing low self-efficacy. Barriers that impacted the ability to address low self-efficacy (Theme 1) included lack of knowledge, confidence, tools, guidance, and community resources, patients’ past experiences and complexities, inability to follow-up with patients, and reimbursement. Due to these barriers, participants primarily addressed patients’ low self-efficacy via communication (Theme 2) and ensuring successful exercise completion (Theme 3). Conclusion Instead of using Bandura’s fours sources of self-efficacy (i.e., mastery experiences, verbal persuasion, vicarious experiences, physiological state), participants verbalized addressing low self-efficacy via communication and successful exercise completion. Thus, implementation studies evaluating strategies to overcome the identified barriers are needed.

Developing Resilient Learners: The Contribution of Counseling to Student Motivation and Achievement

This study investigates the relationship between learning motivation and academic self-efficacy among undergraduate psychology students from the 2020 cohort at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, focusing on those with a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Utilizing a quantitative correlational design, data was collected via a Google Form questionnaire distributed through WhatsApp from October 29, 2023, to April 24, 2024. Despite challenges in data collection, the study revealed that the majority of participants exhibited low levels of both learning motivation and academic self-efficacy. Descriptive statistics showed a mean learning motivation score of 37.07 and an academic self-efficacy score of 86.83. The correlation analysis indicated a significant positive relationship (r = 0.590, p < 0.05) between learning motivation and academic self-efficacy, suggesting that higher learning motivation corresponds to higher academic self-efficacy and vice versa. The findings emphasize the importance of enhancing both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, building mastery experiences, and ensuring students' physical and emotional well-being to foster better academic outcomes. These insights have crucial implications for counseling and guidance services, advocating for targeted interventions to improve learning motivation and academic self-efficacy among students.

INVESTIGATING STUDENT'S LEVEL OF SELF-EFFICACY IN SPEAKING PERFORMANCE OF THAI EFL LEARNERS

The psychological notion of self-efficacy plays a key role in evaluating students' linguistic aptitude and fluency in English. The purpose of this study is to ascertain Thai students learning English as a foreign language (EFL)'s degree of self-efficacy in oral communication. In order to assess students' confidence in their ability to speak English fluently, the study looks into their sense of self-efficacy. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used in this investigation. A questionnaire was distributed to 28 students who attended an Islamic high school in Satun, Southern Thailand, using a quantitative methodology. Several kids from the school are interviewed as part of the qualitative technique. Participants are asked particular questions that allow them to give in-depth answers based on their experiences and circumstances. Using the three elements of self-efficacy—magnitude, generality, and strength—the research findings show that students in Thailand consistently have low levels of self-efficacy. As a result, the study's findings imply that Thai students still require assistance in oral English communication. There are numerous uses for this subject in psychology, education, and language instruction. Instructors could come up with strategies to help Thai students feel more confident about learning English as a second language and improve their oral communication abilities. Techniques that enhance English communication skills can be incorporated into language programs and curriculum designs. The results can be used by psychologists to address issues with self-efficacy in language learning. This study takes a fresh approach by examining Thai English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' self-efficacy, particularly with regard to speaking abilities. It advances existing knowledge by highlighting the specific challenges these students face when speaking. This research provides novel insights that can guide interventions aimed at enhancing students' self-efficacy in oral English communication.

초등학생들의 과학 흥미 증진을 위한 초등 예비교사들의 자기효능감 탐색

Purpose: This research aimed to examine the self-efficacy of pre-service elementary teachers in fostering an interest in science among elementary students. Methods: A cohort of eighty-nine pre-service teachers from A University of Education participated in this survey, with six consenting to additional non-face-to-face interviews. Results: Analytical results from item-specific descriptive statistics revealed that these pre-service teachers exhibit low levels of self-efficacy in stimulating scientific curiosity among students. t-tests, segmented by gender and academic background, indicated no significant gender disparity; however, marked differences were observed across all ‘belief’ and ‘competence’ items when comparing academic backgrounds. Open-ended question analysis highlighted a perceived lack of preparedness among preservice teachers across the multifaceted dimensions of competence, belief, and educational diversification in science interest enhancement. Nonetheless, they recognized the importance of engaging students in science-related activities, lesson enhancement, school administrative support, utilization of community science museums, development of varied science-related programs, and educationally contextual approaches involving digital literacy and new technologies. Conclusion: This study suggests that exploring the self-efficacy of pre-service elementary teachers in augmenting interest in science among students may serve as a foundational step towards understanding the current decline in student interest in science and foreseeing the potential impact of future elementary teachers on student science engagement.

Relationship of Self-Efficacy to The Knowledge of Women of Childbearing Age in Early Detection of Cervical Cancer

Introduction: Cervical cancer, is well known in the world, and this disease is a malignant disease that attacks the reproductive organs of a woman that can no longer be tolerated and about which all women should be aware. Therefore, female self-efficacy is crucial for women of childbearing age to advance knowledge and particularly maximize the reproductive health of these women. Aim: Search for data and results from this study, the author wants to determine the significance and the possible correlation between the effectiveness of women of childbearing age and their knowledge of the performance of cervical cancer screening using the VIA method, so that cervical cancer will not be affected. Method: In this quantitative study, researchers used a correlational descriptive design where the approach used was cross-sectional. In this study, researchers used a sample of 97 respondents in the consultation area of the Harapan Raya Community Health Center in Riau Pekanbaru Province. Sampling is carried out by researchers with the greatest care, following predetermined inclusion criteria and using targeted sampling techniques. Likewise, data analysis is carried out using the chi-square test method. Results: Demographic data from this study indicate that 53.6% of respondents were young adults. The majority of 43.3% of respondents have a college degree and the highest data, mothers are only housewives, accounting for 82.5% of respondents. Through the process of univariate analysis, it was determined that a majority of respondents, specifically 62.9%, had a significantly low level of self-efficacy. Furthermore, it was found that 55.7% of the respondents had a sufficient level of knowledge. The use of the chi-square test in data analysis revealed a notable association between self-efficacy and knowledge of women of childbearing age regarding cervical cancer screening using the VIA method, which is inexpensive, effective, and immediate results are known. This association was supported by a p-value of 0.002, indicating statistical significance. Conclusion: Based on the research results, it was found by researchers that there is a remarkable correlation between self-efficacy and the level of knowledge of women of childbearing age regarding cervical cancer screening using the VIA method, which is a good result to recommend. Recommendation: Researchers recommend that this study be used as a method to increase self-efficacy and knowledge of women of childbearing age in cervical cancer screening using the VIA method.

Prognostic Factors and Treatment Effect Modifiers for Physical Health, Opioid Prescription, and Health Care Utilization in Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders in Primary Care: Exploratory Secondary Analysis of the STEMS Randomized Trial of Direct Access to Physical Therapist-Led Care.

The aims of the study were to identify prognostic factors associated with health care outcomes in patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in primary care and to determine whether characteristics associated with choice of care modify treatment effects of a direct-access physical therapist-led pathway in addition to general practitioner (GP)-led care compared to GP-led care alone. A secondary analysis of a 2-parallel-arm, cluster randomized controlled trial involving general practices in the United Kingdom was conducted. Practices were randomized to continue offering GP-led care or to also offer a direct-access physical therapist-led pathway. Data from adults with MSK conditions who completed the 6-month follow-up questionnaire were analyzed. Outcomes included physical health, opioid prescription, and self-reported health care utilization over 6months. Treatment effect modifiers were selected a priori from associations in observational studies. Multivariable regression models identified potential prognostic factors, and interaction analysis tested for potential treatment effect modifiers. Analysis of 767 participants indicated that baseline pain self-efficacy, pain severity, and having low back pain statistically predicted outcomes at 6months. Higher pain self-efficacy scores at baseline were associated with improved physical health scores, reduced opioid prescription, and less health care utilization. Higher bodily pain at baseline and having low back pain were associated with worse physical health scores and increased opioid prescription. Main interaction analyses did not reveal that patients' age, level of education, duration of symptoms, or MSK presentation influenced response to treatment, but visual trends suggested those in the older age group proceeded to fewer opioid prescriptions and utilized less health care when offered direct access to physical therapy. Patients with MSK conditions with lower levels of pain self-efficacy, higher pain severity, and presenting with low back pain have less favorable clinical and health care outcomes in primary care. Prespecified characteristics did not modify the treatment effect of the offer of a direct-access physical therapist-led pathway compared to GP-led care. Patients with MSK conditions receiving primary care in the form of direct-access physical therapist-led or GP-led care who have lower levels of self-efficacy, higher pain severity, and low back pain are likely to have a less favorable prognosis. Age and duration of symptoms should be explored as potential patient characteristics that modify the treatment response to a direct-access physical therapist-led model of care.

Effects of stress and self-efficacy on quality of life of mothers with autistic children: Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) approach.

Mothers who have children with autism encounter significant difficulties in caring for their autistic youngsters, leading to higher stress levels and a reduced overall quality of life. External or internal factors can cause and respond to stress, affecting an individual's physical, psychological, and emotional health. Thus, it is crucial to examine the quality of life of mothers with autistic children. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between stress, self-efficacy, and quality of life (QoL) in mothers of children with autism. A cross-sectional study design was used. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed from October to November 2019 to mothers with autistic children using cluster sampling techniques to capture their demographics and perceptions of stress, self-efficacy, and QoL. The data analysis was performed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). Of the 290 questionnaires distributed, 238 (response rate of 82%) sets were returned, but only 181 questionnaires were usable for further analysis. The findings demonstrated a notable impact of stress and self-efficacy on quality of life and an adverse effect of stress on self-efficacy. Self-efficacy serves as an intermediary in the relationship between stress and quality of life. In general, mothers of autistic children typically face moderate stress levels, but they have low levels of self-efficacy and quality of life. Mothers of children with autism need assistance and support from healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and psychiatrists, so that they can bear the challenges of raising children with special needs and enjoy a higher standard of living with less emotional and physical strain.

The relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behavior in adolescents: the mediating role of future self-continuity and the moderating role of green self-efficacy

BackgroundClimate change is seriously affecting human survival and development, and the anxiety caused by it is becoming increasingly prominent. How to alleviate people’s climate change anxiety, improve the ecological environment, and promote the formation of green lifestyles among people, especially young people, is an important topic that deserves to be explored. This study examined the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors and the underlying psychological mechanism in the adolescents.MethodsThis study explored the crucial role of future self-continuity (FSC) between climate change anxiety (CCA) and pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) in adolescents and examined the moderating role of green self-efficacy (GSE). In this study, a total of 1,851 middle and high school students from five schools were selected for questionnaire survey.ResultsThe results showed that (1) in both middle and high school grades, there was a significant negative correlation between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors; future self-continuity was significantly positively correlated with pro-environmental behaviors; green self-efficacy was negatively correlated with climate change anxiety and positively correlated with pro-environmental behaviors; (2) climate change anxiety negatively predicted pro-environmental behaviors, and compared with middle school grades, high school grade adolescents’ climate change anxiety was significantly predicted pro-environmental behaviors. Future self-continuity mediated the relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors in both grades. (3) green self-efficacy moderated the second half of the pathway of the mediation model only in middle grades. Specifically in middle school, future self-continuity did not significantly predict pro-environmental behaviors at low green self-efficacy level, but positively predicted pro-environmental behaviors at high green self-efficacy level. In high school, future self-continuity did not significantly predict pro-environmental behaviors in either high or low green self-efficacy level.ConclusionThis study suggests that there is a moderated mediation model between adolescents’ climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors, with different mediating and moderating effects among adolescents in various grades. This is of great significance in alleviating climate anxiety among adolescents and cultivating their pro-environmental behaviors.

Infant neurodevelopment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with maternal pandemic-related experiences, parenting stress, and self-efficacy

BackgroundAlthough pandemic-related experiences have been linked to the psychological well-being of mothers, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant neurodevelopmental outcomes have not been sufficiently studied. AimsTo assess whether maternal COVID-19-related experiences (i.e., COVID-19-related health, risk, resource worries, and feelings of grief), parenting stress, and maternal self-efficacy are associated with infant neurodevelopment as measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3) maternal report when infants were between 8 to 10 months of age. Furthermore, this study examined the moderating effect of maternal self-efficacy between maternal COVID-19-related experiences and infant neurodevelopment. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 122 women who were drawn from the Perinatal Experiences and COVID-19 Effects (PEACE) Study, with online surveys administered between November 2020 and August 2022. ResultsAfter controlling for maternal anxiety and depression symptoms and demographic factors, hierarchical regression analysis indicated that parenting stress showed no effect on ASQ-3 scores. However, more adverse COVID-19-related experiences and higher levels of maternal self-efficacy were associated with better infant neurodevelopment. Moreover, there was a significant interaction effect between maternal self-efficacy and COVID-19-related experiences on infant neurodevelopment. For mothers with moderate to high levels of self-efficacy, more adverse COVID-19-related experiences were associated with better infant neurodevelopment. For mothers with low levels of self-efficacy, more adverse COVID-19-related experiences were associated with poorer developmental outcomes in infants. ConclusionsUnder adverse conditions, confidence in caregiving may afford more optimal infant neurodevelopment. Interventions aimed at fostering maternal self-efficacy and addressing specific stressors can be valuable in promoting positive developmental trajectories for infants born during the pandemic.

Parents’ and professionals’ views on autistic motherhood using a participatory research design

Research on autistic women’s experience of parenthood is lacking. In this paper, two studies are presented. Study 1 comprised a small-scale qualitative study with autistic mothers (n = 9) in which their experiences of motherhood were explored using thematic analysis. The findings showed that participants identified a range of strengths, including connection with their children, high knowledge about childhood, a reflective style of parenting, good coping strategies, identifying with their autism diagnosis, and not caring what others thought. They also identified difficulties, including sensory challenges, coping with uncertainty and change, having to socialise, managing exhaustion, and not being taken seriously by professionals involved with their children. Guided by the findings of Study 1, and in collaboration with an advisory panel of autistic mothers, an online survey using mixed methods was completed by education and social professionals (n = 277) to investigate their understanding of, and attitudes towards, autism in women and mothers. Results showed high awareness and positive attitudes towards autism, but low levels of self-efficacy in working with autistic adults. Qualitative content analysis of open-ended questions shed light on challenges and rewards of working with autistic parents. The findings are discussed with reference to the double empathy problem (Milton Disability & Society, 27(6), 883–887, 2012) and implications for training of professionals.

Translation and validation of the Chinese version of Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Scale.

Accurately assessing the self-efficacy levels of palliative care professionals' is crucial, as low levels of self-efficacy may contribute to the suboptimal provision of palliative care. However, there is currently lacking a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating the self-efficacy of palliative care practitioners in China. Therefore, this study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Scale (PCSS) among Chinese palliative care professionals. This study involved the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the PCSS, and the evaluation of its psychometric properties through testing for homogeneity, content validity, construct validity, known-groups validity, and reliability. A total of 493 palliative care professionals participated in this study. The results showed the critical ratio value of each item was >3 (p < 0.01), and the corrected item-total correlation coefficients of all items ranged from 0.733 to 0.818, indicating a good homogeneity of the items with the scale. Additionally, the scale was shown to have good validity, with item-level content validity index ranged from 0.857 to 1.000, and scale-level content validity index/Ave was 0.956. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the 2-factor structure of the Chinese version of PCSS (C-PCSS), explaining 74.19% of the variance. CFA verified that the 2-factor model had a satisfactory model fit, with χ2/df = 2.724, RMSEA = 0.084, GFI = 0.916, CFI = 0.967, and TLI = 0.952. The known-groups validity of C-PCSS was demonstrated good with its sensitive in differentiating levels of self-efficacy between professionals with less than 1 year of palliative care experience (p < 0.001) or without palliative care training (p = 0.014) and their counterparts. Furthermore, the C-PCSS also exhibited an excellent internal consistency, with the Cronbach's α for the total scale of 0.943. The findings from this study affirmed good validity and reliability of the C-PCSS. It can be emerged as a valuable and reliable instrument for assessing the self-efficacy levels of palliative care professionals in China.