Supporting Parental Self-Efficacy in Family Therapy

Parental self-efficacy is a significant factor that influences parenthood. It is important to pay attention to this factor when treating children with conduct problems. This study examined the ways how parental self-efficacy is supported in family therapy, where family has come due to children`s conduct problems. Also, the way how supporting parental self-efficacy changes during therapy was studied. The material consists of one family`s therapy process, that was carried out in an outpatient clinic. Parents’ self-efficacy was supported by various means that were focused on supporting parental self-efficacy indirectly through two processes mediating self-efficacy. In addition, it was found that supporting parents’ self-efficacy changed as the therapy progressed. In the light of these results supporting parental self-efficacy seems to form a significant part of the treatment of children with conduct problems. This study provides new information about practical means that can be used in supporting parental self-efficacy in family therapy.