From expecting to experiencing: Sources of resilient parenting self-efficacy

Expectation of competence in parenting infants, or parenting self-efficacy (PSE), is an elusive concept both for parents and professionals. High PSE may have different consequences for infant development depending on the basis of PSE (e.g., actual experience vs. persuasion). High PSE may also not be maintained when actual parenting starts. Experimental studies, intervention studies, and longitudinal studies starting during pregnancy are yielding novel findings on PSE, which serve as input for a discussion that should deepen understanding of PSE and increase the utility of the concept for practice. The first presentation tests robustness of PSE in two ways. The first approach is based on a computerized task in which prenatal PSE was challenged among 179 pregnant women by manipulating success in regulating the baby. The second approach followed first-time mothers (intended N=1000) across all trimesters of pregnancy and during the first year to examine patterns of change in PSE in relation to infant temperament. Analyses of the experimental data demonstrated that PSE decreased in response to regulation difficulty. The longitudinal data (preliminary n = 138) indicated that PSE on average increased across pregnancy and first year, but not for mothers of more irritable babies. Is there a common mechanism involved? The second presentation focuses on the course of PSE from pregnancy to 9 months postpartum in 180 new mothers and fathers, and the role that coparenting support plays in initial levels of PSE and change in PSE over time. Expectant parents completed a survey regarding task-specific PSE during the third trimester of pregnancy, and again 3 months and 9 months after their infant’s birth. At 3 months and 9 months postpartum, new parents completed a survey about coparenting. Preliminary SEM analyses of associations between PSE and coparenting support over time indicate that for fathers, increases in PSE from 3 to 9 months postpartum were precipitated by greater perceived coparenting support, but a similar effect was not observed for mothers. The third presentation focuses on PSE and early persistent infant behavior disturbance (i.e., excessive crying, sleeping and feeding difficulties in the first year postpartum). The study included 80 first-time mothers participating in a residential parent-infant intervention with an unsettled infant. Results show clear associations between infant behavior and PSE, and support the effectiveness of the intervention with respect to both variables. Associations between PSE and various maternal variables including depression and anxiety, attachment security and perceived parenting during childhood will also be reported and discussed. Professor Bryanne Barnett will relate in her discussion to links with perinatal mental health, to open up the discussion with the symposium participants about including PSE in building resilience in at-risk families

Associations between breakfast frequency and adiposity indicators in children from 12 countries

OBJECTIVES: Reports of inverse associations between breakfast frequency and indices of obesity are predominantly based on samples of children from high-income countries with limited socioeconomic diversity. Using data from the International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment (ISCOLE), the present study examined associations between breakfast frequency and adiposity in a sample of 9–11-year-old children from 12 countries representing a wide range of geographic and socio-cultural variability. METHODS: Multilevel statistical models were used to examine associations between breakfast frequency (independent variable) and adiposity indicators (dependent variables: body mass index (BMI) z-score and body fat percentage (BF%)), adjusting for age, sex, and parental education in 6941 children from 12 ISCOLE study sites. Associations were also adjusted for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns and sleep time in a sub-sample (n=5710). Where interactions with site were significant, results were stratified by site. RESULTS: Adjusted mean BMI z-score and BF% for frequent breakfast consumers were 0.45 and 20.5%, respectively. Frequent breakfast consumption was associated with lower BMI z-scores compared with occasional (P<0.0001, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.10–0.29) and rare (P<0.0001, 95% CI: 0.18–0.46) consumption, as well as lower BF% compared with occasional (P<0.0001, 95% CI: 0.86–1.99) and rare (P<0.0001, 95% CI: 1.07–2.76). Associations with BMI z-score varied by site (breakfast by site interaction; P=0.033): associations were non-significant in three sites (Australia, Finland and Kenya), and occasional (not rare) consumption was associated with higher BMI z-scores compared with frequent consumption in three sites (Canada, Portugal and South Africa). Sub-sample analyses adjusting for additional covariates showed similar associations between breakfast and adiposity indicators, but lacked site interactions. CONCLUSIONS: In a multinational sample of children, more frequent breakfast consumption was associated with lower BMI z-scores and BF% compared with occasional and rare consumption. Associations were not consistent across all 12 countries. Further research is required to understand global differences in the observed associations

Development and Initial Validation of the Four-Factor Romantic Relationship Scales

Four studies identified new, fundamental psychological characteristics of romantic relationships and collected evidence on the reliability and validity of scores on measures of these characteristics. In Study 1, 257 individuals in romantic relationships listed eight self-chosen words describing their current romantic relationship, generating a total of 79 descriptors. In Study 2, 530 other adults rated their romantic relationship on each of the 79 descriptors. Exploratory factor analysis using half the participant ratings indicated the ratings contained four interpretable factors: How secure, exciting, caring, and stressful the relationship is. Confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining participants showed a moderately good fit for this new four-factor model. Converting the factors into scales led to four nine-item scales. Study 3 (N = 89) showed scores on the Secure, Exciting, and Caring scales were associated with scores on measures of logically related components of love and with relationship satisfaction. Study 4 (N = 58 couples) showed that across all four scales ratings had significant intraclass correlations with independent partner ratings on the same scale. The study also showed significant associations between scale scores and both positive and negative affect and life satisfaction. The results of the studies provide initial evidence of reliability and validity for the new scales