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

Behavioral problems of children, parenting behavior of mothers, social stre ss and social resources are thought to be core constructs in theoretical mo dels about parenting. This paper adds to these variables self-efficacy and self-esteem in the role of mother. Therefore, N = 322 mothers of children a ged 7 to 13 years were studied by means of several questionnaires. Self-eff icacy and self-esteem as a mother are closely related to general self-effic acy and general self-esteem, but possess specific proportions related to pa renting as well. In multiple regression analyses self-efficacy and self-est eem as a mother explain unique variance of child behavioral problems, after controlling for mothers' description of parenting behavior, experienced st ress, and social support. Mothers' rewarding of child behavior is coupled w ith fewer behavior problems only if mothers are convinced about the efficac y of their parenting behavior. The greater the self-esteem as a mother, the stronger the relationship between strictness of parenting behavior and per ceived behavioral problems. Consequences for further studies are discussed.