Antenatal maternal mental dispositions as predictors of maternal self-efficacy: A five-year longitudinal study

Problem: Maternal self-efficacy is a crucial factor in parenting quality and child development, yet there is limited evidence on how antenatal maternal mental dispositions are related to maternal self-efficacy over the long term. Background: Guided by Belsky's process model of parenting determinants, this study focused on four domains of antenatal maternal mental dispositions: relational (adult attachment and recalled maternal bonding), mental health (anxiety and depression), mood (positive and negative affect), and support perception (perceived social support). Aim: This study examined whether antenatal maternal mental dispositions predict maternal self-efficacy five years after childbirth. Methods: The sample included 183 pregnant women recruited from all public health funds in Israel. In this longitudinal study, participants completed validated self-report questionnaires during their third trimester of pregnancy (T1) and approximately five years after giving birth (T2). Findings: Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that maternal mental dispositions during pregnancy accounted for 27.7% of the variance in maternal self-efficacy five years later. Specifically, higher levels of anxious attachment, antenatal depression, and negative affect significantly and negatively predict maternal self-efficacy, whereas higher levels of recalled maternal bonding of care and perceived social support significantly and positively predict it. Discussion: These findings provide novel long-term evidence that diverse antenatal maternal dispositions across multiple psychological domains are associated with maternal self-efficacy five years after childbirth. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of implementing systematic screening and preventive interventions during pregnancy to promote maternal well-being and support maternal self-efficacy during the preschool years.