Parent Self-efficacy Beliefs and Parenting Strengths Regulating Children's Mental Health in South Africa

Background: When families face adversities and crises, the consequences worsen children’s mental health vulnerabilities. Studies show that parents feel they lack the knowledge and skills to manage their children's mental health challenges.Objective: This paper reports on a study that explored parent self-efficacy beliefs and parenting strengths that buffer children's mental health risks during adversity in a South African setting.Method: A qualitative exploratory case study design was followed. Using snowball sampling, five family units with eight volunteers (five mothers, one father and two grandmothers) participated.Results: Thematic analysis revealed that parents and caregivers believe they can recognise when their children are sad, depressed, anxious, worried, and confused. This ability is attributed to parenting strengths such as knowing their child, not hiding problems, being aware, seeking information, connecting with others, and managing personal emotions.Key findings: Findings identify intrapersonal characteristics, warmth, care, compassion, and confidence as parenting strengths.Conclusions: Parent intervention strategies to identify and mobilise self-efficacy capabilities are recommended. Future studies should include longitudinal investigations linking parent self-efficacy and youth educational outcomes in various family circumstances.