A LONGITUDINAL MODEL OF MATERNAL SELF-EFFICACY, DEPRESSION, AND DIFFICULT TEMPERAMENT DURING TODDLERHOOD

The purpose of this study was to test a model of maternal self-efficac y during toddlerhood using a longitudinal sequential design. Participa nts were 126 mothers of 1-year olds (Cohort 1) and 126 mothers of 2-ye ar olds (Cohort 2) who completed questionnaires measuring maternal sel f-efficacy, depression, and perceived difficult toddler temperament th ree times over 1 year. Data were analyzed using structural equation mo deling and maximum likelihood estimation. Findings support a model whe reby (a) the more depressed the mother feels, the more likely she is t o rate her toddler's temperament as difficult, (b) the more difficult the child's temperament is perceived to be, the lower the mother's est imates of her parenting self-efficacy, (c) the lower the mother's self -efficacy, the greater her depression, and (d) the more depressed the mother feels at one point in time, the more likely she is to remain de pressed 6 months later. Implications of the findings are discussed as they relate to self-efficacy theory and nursing intervention with pare nts of difficult toddlers. (C) 1994 John wiley & Sons, Inc.