Associations between parental self-efficacy and outcomes for children and parents: a systematic review protocol

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to synthesize cross-sectional and longitudinal bivariate associations between parental self-efficacy and a wide range of child and parent outcomes, and to examine potential moderators of these associations. INTRODUCTION: Parental self-efficacy refers to parents' confidence in their ability to influence the development, learning, and well-being of their children. Many studies have examined associations between parental self-efficacy and a wide range of child and parent outcomes. Although several systematic reviews have been conducted, no quantitative evidence synthesis of these associations is available. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: This review will include journal articles published in English that report quantitative data on parents or caregivers of children aged 0 to 18 years. Studies must report bivariate associations between parental self-efficacy and at least 1 eligible child or parent outcome, or provide sufficient information to derive such effect sizes. Eligible outcomes include child mental health and well-being, academic performance, peer relationships, parenting practices, parental mental health, partner relationship and co-parenting functioning, and the parent-child relationship. METHODS: Searches will be conducted in 9 databases, including PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase, Education Database (ProQuest), ERIC (ProQuest), and Social Science Database (ProQuest). Study selection, data extraction, and coding will be conducted independently by trained reviewers. Effect sizes will be synthesized using 3-level random-effects models to account for statistical dependence among multiple effect sizes within studies. REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420261281033.