Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PMP S-E)

Abstract

The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PMP S-E) is a specialized psychometric instrument designed to measure a mother’s subjective belief in her capacity to successfully perform the necessary tasks associated with caring for her baby. Developed primarily for use with mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates, the PMP S-E assesses critical areas of maternal competence, including understanding infant cues, soothing techniques, and general physical care. This 20-item scale utilizes a 4-point Likert response format to provide a quantitative measure of perceived self-efficacy, which is crucial for predicting maternal adaptation and engagement in the often stressful environment of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Keywords

Parenting self-efficacy, maternal confidence, preterm neonates, NICU, psychological assessment, maternal role, self-efficacy, parental competence, psychometrics

Authors

Barnes, C. R., Adamson-Macedo, E. N.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PMP S-E) is to provide a reliable and valid measure of maternal confidence regarding infant care tasks. In clinical and research settings, this tool allows practitioners to identify mothers who may be at risk for low self-efficacy, thereby enabling targeted interventions aimed at improving maternal-infant attachment and caregiving outcomes.

The instrument is particularly relevant in high-stress clinical environments, such as the NICU, where mothers of preterm infants often experience heightened anxiety and uncertainty about their ability to manage complex care needs. By quantifying perceived competence, the PMP S-E serves as a valuable clinical and research tool for evaluating the effectiveness of support programs.

Construct

The PMP S-E measures the psychological construct of perceived self-efficacy, as defined by Albert Bandura, specifically within the context of maternal parenting. Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments. For the PMP S-E, this translates into a mother’s conviction that she can successfully interpret her baby’s needs, respond appropriately to distress, and carry out essential caregiving duties (e.g., feeding, bathing, and soothing).

The scale encompasses several domains of maternal functioning, reflecting the multifaceted nature of early parenting. High scores indicate a strong sense of competence and control over the baby’s care and interaction, while low scores may suggest feelings of inadequacy or helplessness in the maternal role.

Validity

The development and validation study for the PMP S-E (Barnes & Adamson-Macedo, 2007) established its initial construct validity primarily with mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates. The scale items were developed based on extensive literature review and expert consultation to ensure they accurately represent the key behavioral domains of maternal caregiving.

Further cross-cultural research, such as the translation and validation study conducted with Iranian mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates (Aliabadi et al., 2013), provided evidence of the scale’s face validity and cultural applicability, reinforcing its utility across diverse populations facing similar high-risk parenting situations.

Reliability

Initial psychometrics testing confirmed that the PMP S-E possesses strong reliability. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency, indicating that the 20 items consistently measure the same underlying construct of perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. This strong reliability ensures that the measure provides stable and dependable results when assessing a mother’s confidence level over time or across different clinical assessments.

Factor Analysis

While specific factor loadings are often detailed in the original validation paper, the structure of the 20 items suggests that the PMP S-E is either a highly cohesive single-factor scale representing overall maternal competence, or a multi-dimensional tool encompassing related sub-factors. These inferred sub-factors typically relate to the behavioral clusters present in the items, such as: 1) Understanding and Reading Cues (e.g., knowing when the baby is tired or sick); 2) Affective Regulation/Soothing (e.g., calming a crying or fussy baby); and 3) Physical Care Competence (e.g., feeding, bathing, and changing the baby).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Questionnaire/Psychological Scale

Format: 20 items utilizing a 4-point Likert scale (Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree)

Language Available: English, Persian (Farsi)

Population Group: Mothers

Age Group: Adults (Mothers of neonates)

Population Details: Originally validated with mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates, though applicable to broader maternal populations.

Test Methodology: Quantitative assessment of perceived competence in infant care; primarily used in clinical nursing and psychological research settings focusing on early parenting adjustment.

Keywords

Parenting self-efficacy, maternal confidence, self-efficacy, neonates, NICU, maternal adjustment, internal consistency, construct validity, nursing assessment, early childhood

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The PMP S-E was developed and validated in 2007. Specific current fee and detailed permission requirements should be obtained directly from the authors or the journal publisher (Journal of Advanced Nursing). The instrument is widely cited in academic literature concerning maternal health and neonatology.

The original PDF of an application study (in Persian) can be downloaded here: http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-374-fa.pdf

Reference’s

Barnes, C. R., & Adamson-Macedo, E. N. (2007). Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) tool: Development and validation with mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 60(5), 550–560.

Barnes & Adamson-Macedo, (2007). Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy. In: Simmons C. A., Lehmann P. (eds). Tools for strengths-based assessment and evaluation, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 436-438. (2013). Google Scholar

Aliabadi, Faranak., Borimnejad, Leili., Kamali, Mohammad., et al. (2013). Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy: Translation and Face validation with Iranian mothers of hospitalized Preterm Neonates. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 11 (Special issue), 7-10.

Additional information regarding application can be found in the article: Neonatal and Pediatric Medicine

Items of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PMP S-E)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I believe that I can tell when my baby is tired and needs to sleep.
2. I believe that I have control over my baby’s care.
3. I can tell when my baby is sick.
4. I can read my baby’s cues.
5. I can make my baby happy.
6. I believe that my baby responds well to me.
7. I believe that my baby and I have a good interaction with each other.
8. I can make my baby calm when he/she has been crying.
9. I am good at soothing my baby when he/she becomes upset.
10. I am good at soothing my baby when he/she becomes fussy.
11. I am good at soothing my baby when he/she continually cries.
12. I am good at soothing my baby when he/she becomes more restless.
13. I am good at understanding what my baby wants.
14. I am good at getting my baby’s attention.
15. I am good at knowing what activities my baby does not enjoy.
16. I am good at keeping my baby occupied.
17. I am good at feeding my baby.
18. I am good at changing my baby.
19. I am good at bathing my baby.
20. I can show affection to my baby.

Response Options: Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree