Parental Self-Efficacy: Development of a Measure to Prevent Children's Environmental Contaminant Exposure -

Many childhood health and developmental concerns may be explained in part by children’s physical environments through their exposure to environmental contaminants (ECs: e.g., lead, mercury, and radon) [1]. Treatments for the adverse effects associated with contaminant exposure, however, are largely unknown, making primary prevention the most effective strategy for protecting children [2]. Often, this line of research focuses on raising parents’ awareness to the environmental health issue through education but neglects social and cognitive barriers in some parents that could negate the benefits of an effective prevention program [1].