Influence of a Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy and Father Involvement in Childcare on Mothers' Parenting Stress

Objectives This study was conducted to investigate the influence of maternal parenting self-efficacy and father involvement in childcare on mothers' parenting stress. Methods An online survey was conducted on 405 mothers with early children aged 3 to 5. Collected data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Analysis, Simple Regression and Multiple Regression. Results Prior to analyses according to research questions, results of investigating relationship among parenting stress, parenting efficacy and fathers' involvement in child care revealed significant negative correlations. Results of analysis according to the first research question revealed that maternal parenting efficacy negatively influenced on parenting stress and difficulty of parenting role was more influential than confidence of parenting role regardless of sub-variables of parenting stress. And several specific behaviors which were relatively highly related to relief of maternal parenting stress were identified. Results of analysis according to the second research question revealed that fathers' involvement in child care negatively influenced on parenting stress and relative influence differ according to sub-variables of fathers' involvement in child care. And several specific parenting involvement behaviors which were relatively highly related to relief of maternal parenting stress were identified. Conclusions This study revealed that fathers' involvement differently influenced according to sub-variables of maternal parenting stress and identified specific parenting efficacy behaviors and fathers' involvement behaviors which were relatively highly related to maternal parenting stress. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these findings when preparing for measures to cope with parenting stress of mothers with early children.