Self-efficacy and self-esteem in the role of mother

Behavioral problems of children, parenting behavior of mothers, social stress and social resources are thought to be core constructs in theoretical models about parenting. This paper adds to these variables self-efficacy and self-esteem in the role of mother. Therefore, N = 322 mothers of children aged 7 to 13 years were studied by means of several questionnaires. Self-efficacy and self-esteem as a mother are closely related to general self-efficacy and general self-esteem, but possess specific proportions related to parenting as well. In multiple regression analyses self-efficacy and self-esteem as a mother explain unique variance of child behavioral problems, after controlling for mothers' description of parenting behavior, experienced stress, and social support. Mothers' rewarding of child behavior is coupled with fewer behavior problems only if mothers are convinced about the efficacy of their parenting behavior. The greater the self-esteem as a mother, the stronger the relationship between strictness of parenting behavior and perceived behavioral problems. Consequences for further studies are discussed.