ABSTRACT

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of child-care involvement of fathers and the parenting self-efficacy of mothers who have developmentally disabled children, and to examine the variables explaining the mothers’parenting self-efficacy. Methods : The subjects were 190 mothers with developmentally disabled children who were receiving treatment in special therapy institutions. The instruments used for this study were the Paternal Involvement in Child Care Index and the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson & Spearman's Correlation and multiple regressions. Results : First, the mothers reported a medium level of parenting self-efficacy, as well as a medium level of involvement in the care of their children from their husband. Second, the mothers’parenting self-efficacy was significantly explained based on the level of their child's disability, and the degree of their husband’s child-care involvement. The mothers who have a child with a slight degree of disability and who receive more child-care support from their husband reported higher parenting self-efficacy. Conclusions : We confirmed that the mothers’level of parenting self-efficacy is related to the level of their child’s disability and the degree of their husband’s involvement in their child’s care. Thus, we newly recognized the importance of education and treatment for handicapped children. After this research, we recognized that the system needs to be changed for the families of handicapped children, and that the program should elicit the father's participation.