Parental self-efficacy mitigates the association between low spousal support and stress

This study examined the moderating role of parental self-efficacy of the association between spousal support and stress. Recruited through online survey, 445 Israeli parents filled out self-reported questionnaires. The moderation model explained 36.4% of the variance in parents' stress. The findings confirmed that in the presence of high parental self-efficacy, the effect of spousal support on stress was non-significant. However, the less parental self-efficacy reported, the stronger the association between spousal support and stress was found. These findings have implications for professionals working with families as they emphasize the importance of parents’ inner resource in the absence of spousal support.