Parenting Self-Efficacy and Parenting Practices over Time in Mexican American Families

Drawing on social cognitive theory, this study used a longitudinal cross-lagged panel design and a structural equation modeling approach to evaluate parenting self-efficacy\u27s reciprocal and causal associations with parents\u27 positive control practices over time to predict adolescents\u27 conduct problems. Data were obtained from teachers, mothers, and adolescents in 189 Mexican American families living in the southwest U.S. After accounting for contemporaneous reciprocal relationships between parenting self-efficacy (PSE) and positive control, results indicated that parenting self-efficacy predicted future positive control practices rather than the reverse. PSE also showed direct effects on decreased adolescent conduct problems. PSE functioned in an antecedent causal role in relation to parents\u27 positive control practices and adolescents\u27 conduct problems in this sample. These results support the cross-cultural applicability of social cognitive theory to parenting in Mexican American families. An implication is that parenting interventions aimed at preventing adolescent conduct problems need to focus on elevating the PSE of Mexican American parents with low levels of PSE. In addition, future research should seek to specify the most effective strategies for enhancing PSE

Family Influences on Mexican American Adolescents’ Romantic Relationships: Moderation by Gender and Culture

This study examined prospective associations between the family context and adolescents’ romantic relationships as moderated by adolescents’ gender and culture among Mexican American families (N = 189). Adolescents at Time 1 (early adolescence) were on average 12.29 years of age (SD = .50) and 54% female. Mothers and fathers reported on family structure and dynamics during early adolescence, and youth reported on their romantic relationship involvement and quality during middle and late adolescence. Results from path analyses indicated that family structure and dynamics (supportive parenting, consistent discipline, parent-adolescent, and interparental conflict) were associated with adolescents’ romantic involvement and quality, with differences by adolescents’ gender and culture. Findings highlight Mexican American family contexts that contribute uniquely to adolescents’ romantic relationships

A study to develop scales to assess client outcome optimism, self-efficacy, and perceived progress in psychotherapy

This study involved the development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of scales to assess client perceptions of outcome optimism (OO), self-efficacy (SE), and progress in psychotherapy (PP). An exploratory goal clarity (GC) scale was also evaluated. Items were formulated logically from the current relevant theory and research to represent these constructs. Expert judges evaluated the items and 46 were retained to compose the initial questionnaire. Questionnaires were administered by therapists to 261 clients receiving therapy in various modalities, for a wide range of presenting problems, in diverse settings. Construct validity was assessed through exploratory Principle Components Analysis (PCA) and testing for response bias due to social desirability. Results of PCA indicated the optimum solution consisted of 5 factors. PCA confirmed the construct validity of OO, PP, and GC as initially defined. Items representing SE separated into two distinct factors. One factor reflected SE as initially defined. The other factor pertained to expending effort and persisting in expending effort in psychotherapy. This new factor was labeled effort and persistence (EP). Results indicated that client responses did not reflect systematic response bias due to social desirability. Of the initial 46 items, 23 were retained to represent the 5 variables (OO, SE, EP, PP, and GC). Results of higher order PCA of the 5 factors suggested the presence of a single broad factor pertaining to clients\u27 general hopefulness regarding various positive effects of therapy. Internal consistency reliability coefficients for the scales were.91 for PP,.90 for OO,.83 for EP,.73 for SE, and.67 of GC. Cronbach\u27s alpha for the total questionnaire (called HOPES) was.92. Results of this study provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the HOPES scales. Directions for continued development of the scales for research and clinical practice are presented

Parenting Self-Efficacy and Parenting Practices over Time in Mexican American Families

Drawing on social cognitive theory, this study used a longitudinal cross-lagged panel design and a structural equation modeling approach to evaluate parenting self-efficacy\u27s reciprocal and causal associations with parents\u27 positive control practices over time to predict adolescents\u27 conduct problems. Data were obtained from teachers, mothers, and adolescents in 189 Mexican American families living in the southwest U.S. After accounting for contemporaneous reciprocal relationships between parenting self-efficacy (PSE) and positive control, results indicated that parenting self-efficacy predicted future positive control practices rather than the reverse. PSE also showed direct effects on decreased adolescent conduct problems. PSE functioned in an antecedent causal role in relation to parents\u27 positive control practices and adolescents\u27 conduct problems in this sample. These results support the cross-cultural applicability of social cognitive theory to parenting in Mexican American families. An implication is that parenting interventions aimed at preventing adolescent conduct problems need to focus on elevating the PSE of Mexican American parents with low levels of PSE. In addition, future research should seek to specify the most effective strategies for enhancing PSE

Family Influences on Mexican American Adolescents’ Romantic Relationships: Moderation by Gender and Culture

This study examined prospective associations between the family context and adolescents’ romantic relationships as moderated by adolescents’ gender and culture among Mexican American families (N = 189). Adolescents at Time 1 (early adolescence) were on average 12.29 years of age (SD = .50) and 54% female. Mothers and fathers reported on family structure and dynamics during early adolescence, and youth reported on their romantic relationship involvement and quality during middle and late adolescence. Results from path analyses indicated that family structure and dynamics (supportive parenting, consistent discipline, parent-adolescent, and interparental conflict) were associated with adolescents’ romantic involvement and quality, with differences by adolescents’ gender and culture. Findings highlight Mexican American family contexts that contribute uniquely to adolescents’ romantic relationships

Interparental Relations, Maternal Employment, and Fathering in Mexican American Families

This study examined independent and interactive relations between the interparental relationship and maternal employment in predicting fathering within low-income, Mexican American two-parent families (N = 115). Interparental conflict was negatively related to quality fathering, and these relations were noted only for single-earner families. The parenting alliance was positively related to quality fathering irrespective of maternal employment. Fathering was associated with lower levels of child depression and conduct problems. Results suggest that bolstering quality fathering is a useful avenue for improving child well-being and that strengthening the interparental relationship can support quality fathering and child mental health within Mexican American families