Maternal Self-efficacy and Family Health Routines

Abstract

Purpose: Family health is a system comprising routines or habitual practices. This study investigated the relationships between maternal self-efficacy (SE) and obesity, habitual smoking, breastfeeding, and children’s sleeping patterns. Methods: Participants (98 women) attending a weight loss clinic reported on themselves and their 172 biological children. Mothers provided demographic information for parents and children and completed the 20-item Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Scale (FNPA). Maternal SE was assessed with a 13-item Confidence Survey, which measures confidence to carry out activities related to healthy family meals and family activity. FNPA results have been reported in an earlier publication. Results: Normal-weight mothers had more favorable (higher) SE scores compared with overweight mothers. There were positive relationships between SE and the FNPA and children’s sleep patterns in younger children. There were no significant relationships between SE and children’s body mass index (B...