Testing a parenting programme evaluation tool as a pre- and post-course measure of parenting self-efficacy

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to measure changes in parenting self-efficacy after attending a parenting programme and to determine if these changes are maintained over time. BACKGROUND: A need for the evaluation of parenting programmes from the perspective of parents who take part has led to the development of a Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy. Self-efficacy, a self-perception of one's ability to perform competently and effectively in a particular task or setting, provided the framework for the development of the tool. METHODS: A total of 356 parents took part in the study over 53 parenting programmes in the UK in 2004-2005. Parents completed the evaluation tool as a pre- and post-course measure of parenting self-efficacy and at 4-month follow-up. FINDINGS: Parenting self-efficacy increased at the end of the parenting programmes for all scales. The increase from baseline to end of course was maintained for all scales at four month follow-up and there was a further increase for two scales. Increases in self-efficacy were found across a range of parenting programmes. CONCLUSION: The tool can be used to assess the impact of different types of parenting programmes on parenting self-efficacy and in research into this topic.