Abstract:
Parenting is one of the key components in fostering the development of the child. Parental efficacy is the
parent’s belief to influence the child and their environment in a way to strengthen the confidence of the
parent, build the child’s wellbeing and propagate positive parenting ways. (Eccles et al., 1993; Furstenberg,
1993). One of the key factors influenced by parental efficacy is child’s adjustment i.e. behavioural and
emotional problems of a child (Jones & Prinz, 2005). Furthermore, there are a number of demographic
variables such as age, gender, education, employment of the parent that may also contribute to the parent’s
own confidence and ability to parent. The current study focuses on the psycho-social and demographic
correlates of child adjustment and parental efficacy. This was a crossectional study, the sample included
parents i.e. (n = 200) of children 2-12 years of age where by the parents were approached through purposive
sampling from the areas of Peshawar and Islamabad. This study was conducted in the following three phases
1. Translation of adjustment measures i.e. Child Adjustment & Parental Efficacy scale (CAPES) & Parent
Adjustment Family Adjustment scale (PAFAS) 2. Data Gathering and 3. Data Analysis. Findings suggest
demographics that played a role in child adjustment & parental efficacy were parent’s age (F= 4.34, p < .00),
partner’s age (F=4.23, p < .00) and marital status of the parents( F=6.30 p < .00.) , whereas parental efficacy
was positively correlated to promotive parenting practices, supportive parental teamwork, good parent child
relationship and conflict free family relationships. This study helped us to understand the parental efficacy
among parents in Pakistan, how that impacted child adjustment and what important demographics enhance
parenting. This information can be used for designing programs targeting parenting and parental self-efficacy
in the future.
